Opening hours - plan your visit

Telephone 0300 123 4049

Email: hertsdirect@hertscc.gov.uk

Opening hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 9.00 - 19.30
Wednesday 9.00 - 17.00
Thursday 9.00 - 17.00
Friday 9.00 - 17.00
Saturday 9.00 - 13.00

We are closed on the Spring Bank Holiday (Monday 4th June) and the Diamond Jubilee (Tuesday 5th June)

Please note that original documents cannot be produced during the last hour before closing. If you would like to view original documents on a Saturday, please pre-order documents by phone at least 24 hours in advance (calling the Archive Reading Room on 0300 123 4049). You can order a maximum of three items in advance.

Staff are available to help at all times. We can advise you on the use of finding aids and sources and how our systems work. Please ask staff if you have any questions, we are here to assist you.

You will be asked to put bags into a locker and to use a pencil for taking notes.

Food and drink are not allowed in the Reading Rooms.

Bringing ID / using a CARN ticket
If you are visiting Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies for the first time and wish to consult original documents, please bring with you some identification bearing your name, address and signature, such as a driving licence. You will then be issued with a County Archive Research Network ticket, also known as a CARN ticket. This ticket is then valid for use at many other Record Offices throughout the country.

Booking in advance
If you already have references for items you wish to consult, please telephone to order them in advance - this will save you time during your visit. You can also pre-order a maximum of three documents using the link on our homepage. There is no need to book to use family history resources in the Local Studies Library.

Procedures in the Archive Reading Room
Normally you can only request three individual items at any one time. When you have finished with an item, it should be returned to the member of staff at the document issue desk. All documents should be handled with care - staff will issue book supports and map weights to help you do so. Please tell a member of staff if you are worried about the condition of any item.

Document request times
Tickets will be sent to the basement at:

9.30, 10.00, 10.30, 11.00, 12.00, 1.00, 1.30, 2.00, 2.30, 3.30 and 4.00pm (from Tuesday to Friday)

4.30, 5.00, 5.30, 6.00 and 6.30pm (Tuesday evenings)

9.30, 10.00, 11.00, 11.30 and 12.00 (Saturdays)

Documents should be available for use within half an hour of the order time. The last production is an hour before closing, regardless of the day. Documents stored off site are collected twice a day. Document Request Tickets for these items need to be submitted by 11am and 2.30pm. These documents should be available for use within one hour of the order time. Please note that there is no off site production on Saturdays.

Taking your own photographs
If you wish to use your own equipment to take copies of any items in the reading rooms, you will be required to buy a permit. This permit will allow you to take an unlimited number of copies in the specified time period. The cost of a permit is:

• Full day
• £5.00
• 5 days (does not have to be consecutive)
• £20.00
• Annual
• £50.00
  
  Anyone intending to publish images from our collections must obtain permission in advance. There may be a charge for Reproduction Rights.
  
  Use of Laptops and the internet
  There are power points near to study tables which you are welcome to use for your own laptops and free wi-fi is available. There is access to the internet in both reading rooms.
  
  Refreshments
  We have a comfortable seating area with hot and cold drinks machines. Visitors can obtain a pass to use the County Hall Staff restaurant in the main building between 12-2pm. The town centre is a short walk away where there are many cafes, restaurants and pubs.
  
  Parking
  There is a free car park directly outside our building. Please be aware that on some days it may be difficult to find a space if large meetings are taking place at County Hall. On these occasions visitors can use the staff car parks to the rear of the site.
  
  Visitors with disabilities
  There are disabled parking spaces directly outside and automatic doors into the building. The toilet facilities are also fully accessible. We have a hearing induction loop in both rooms. Magnifying equipment is available and a large monitor and keypad using specially adapted software.
  
  Write to us at:
  Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies
  Register Office Block
  CHR 002
  County Hall
  Pegs Lane
  Hertford
  Herts
  SG13 8EJ