UK National Archives reopened

[Nick Beale]

The reading rooms open again on 27 April but you have to book a place.

Details here:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...ent=2021-04-20

Also you can register for a new Reader's Ticket online:

https://secure.nationalarchives.gov....eader-register

[Steve Coates]

This is good news but tempered by the file limit of 12.

[AndreasB]

Works for those of us in London, but for the others...

All the best

Andreas

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by AndreasB

Works for those of us in London, but for the others...
Andreas

Hardly worth (for me) 300 km each way on the train and a night in a hotel. You can place a bulk order for more files but they must all be from the same series.

[AndreasB]

You're unlikely to get a seat for bulk orders, they are very restricted.

I feel really sorry for anyone without access to TfL.

All the best

Andreas

[Christer Bergström]

12-file-limitation... that makes it impossible for me, living in Sweden.

Is there a kind Londoner who can help me with some material that I need from the National Archives before I publish Black Cross Red Star Vol. 1? It is from the Ultra files, and I will give you the Record number. Please contact me at vaktelforlag [at] gmail.com

https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...on-barbarossa/

[Nick Beale]

They've just announced an increase in Reading Room access: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...ent=2021-07-04 including longer hours and more files.

[richdlc]

Nick - a question that perhaps you can answer. I want to pay the reading rooms a visit as there is something there on the HMS Reaper and the aircraft taken to the USA after WWII.

During lockdown, the National Archives said that I could have a few pages emailed to me only as the item was under copyright. What kind of access are you given to documents - can you take photocopies of them, or photograph them with your phone? What about stuff that is under copyright, how much falls under the 'fair use' rule?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by richdlc

What kind of access are you given to documents - can you take photocopies of them, or photograph them with your phone? What about stuff that is under copyright, how much falls under the 'fair use' rule?

Before the plague hit us, I just my camera and photographed everything I wanted (reserving a seat and files in advance under "special requests" saying I needed a camera stand). There are also photocopiers that readers can use but I haven't tried them myself. I haven't come across copyright restrictions on any files I've used.

[Steve Coates]

Rich

The Reaper material I've looked at whilst at Kew doesn't contain anything terribly exciting unfortunately. Off the top of my head, I can't recall exactly what I've got archived but if you can send me the file reference by e-mail, I'll copy the file for you when I'm next there. This should be within the next month.

Just by way of response to the other aspect of your query. Files can be copied using mobiles, digital cameras etc. Kew does have a copying section and they'll scan items for you at a surprisingly reasonable cost but only @ 300 dpi (research quality).

Steve