Visitor Information & Contact Details

Before you visit the Archives, you can find out what we have that might be useful to your research on our Online Catalogue or using our Guides and Indexes. If you see something you want to look at, note its reference number, title and covering dates and contact us to make an appointment.

If you haven't found anything on our Catalogue (it is a work in progress) or if you're not sure what we have that could help your research, please contact us with your query via email or telephone.

Preparing for your visit

It helps if you do the following:

• Bring as many of your notes with you as you can!
• Think about what you're aiming for in your research - what do you want to find? Try and focus on one person / research interest at a time before moving on to the next.
• If you are looking at a large date range, try and narrow it down - this saves you having to look through multiple volumes with the same information (and reduces unnecessary handling of the collections).
• Bring some notepaper, a pencil and a rubber - pens cannot be used in the searchroom.
• You can bring your own digital camera to take copies - there will be a small charge for using your camera - details of our charges are available via our Table of Fees or on request.
• You can bring your laptop / tablet / iPad.

We will get any items you have requested in advance out ready for you on the day of your visit. If you need to request more records on the day of your visit, this will be subject to availabilty as some of our records are held offsite. 

In the searchroom

When you make an appointment to visit, you will be asked to comply with our Searchroom Guidelines: 

Failure to do so may result in you being refused access to the searchroom. Access restrictions are in place for records containing personal data covered by the Data Protection Act: see the How to Access our records page for more information. 

If you would like to take photographs of collection items during your visit, you will need to fill out a copyright form and pay a self service copy fee. 

We want you to get the most out of your visit! Staff are always available to answer any questions you might have both before and during your visit. If you are unsure of what you are looking at, please ask, we will be happy to help!

If you are planning on staying for a whole day, please remember that we close for an hour over lunch 12:30-13:30. There are no facilities for you to eat your own lunch on site but there are a number of cafes nearby.

The search room in the Town House is on the third floor. Alternative access arrangements may need to be made, particularly for larger wheelchairs that may not fit in the lift. Please contact us at archives@aberdeencity.gov.uk. 

Parking

There are several city centre car parks available near the Town House. Disabled parking is available on site: please let us know in advance to access this car parking.