Where are you located? We are situated in the basement of the University’s Tower Building, Perth Road, Dundee. To find us take the lift or stairs to the
basement and follow the signs. If in doubt, please ask for directions at the reception desk at the entrance to the Tower. We are very near to
the town centre and travel links. See http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/locopen1.htm
Are the archives free to use? There are no costs associated with visiting the Archives and accessing our materials. Charges are only made if you want documents reproduced or in some circumstances for research conducted by staff. See http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/charges.htm
Do I have to make an appointment before visiting? Given that it is sometimes necessary to close the searchroom at short notice and that there is limited reader space, it is always advisable to make an appointment to visit, either in person, by telephone or by e-mail. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/contactarchives.htm
Do I need to bring anything when I visit? When visiting the Archives for the first time, please bring some proof of identification with your name, address and signature (e.g. a driving licence or passport). Students can use their current matriculation card. On subsequent occasions please bring with you your reader’s ticket.
I am unable to travel to Dundee. Can you help me with my research? Archives staff will usually do up to half an hour’s free research on behalf of anyone unable to visit the office in person. Any research taking longer than half an hour is subject to a half hourly charge of £11. We regret that we are not able to undertake large research projects. In addition, we do not carry out research if it involves collections belonging to other archive services. There are a number of
websites which the general researcher can use to explore records in Scotland and the UK - please check our links page.
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/associatedpages.htm
Will someone help me when I visit the archives? Staff are on hand to help and offer advice at all times in an effort to ensure that you have a productive and enjoyable visit.
Do you need a list of items I want to see prior to my visit to the archives? Readers do not need to come prepared with a list of records that they wish to access. Online and hard copy catalogues are available to
consult in the Archives although, readers can, of course, access our catalogues remotely and identify records that might be of interest
before visiting. Please note that all not all of our collections are listed on the online catalogue. Please contact Archives staff who will
be happy to help you in your research. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/contactarchives.htm
Can I get copies of archive material? Items can be photocopied on request, although this is at the discretion of the Archivist, and depends on such factors as copyright, state of repair and size of the document. Photocopying is carried out by the Archive’s staff and photocopies can normally be collected after a minimum of 24 hours. Details of current reproduction costs can be accessed here. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/charges.htm
What does it mean if a record is 'closed?' Some material may be too fragile to access or may be closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 or other legislation or at the request of the depositor. These materials are not available to view. Depending on the reason for closure it may be possible to view a copy or for Archive staff to summarise the information in the item.
Can I use my laptop? Yes, laptops can be used (at your own risk). If the searchroom is busy power points may not be available so users may need to run their laptop off battery power.
Can I use my camera? At present the Archives does not allow readers to take digital photographs of any of the materials held. Staff can copy materials, subject to copyright conditions and preservation requirements, on behalf of the reader. Details of current charging can be found here.
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/charges.html
Can I access the catalogues at home? Yes, our catalogue is available to search from home on our website. Please note, not all our catalogues can be accessed online. Please get in touch if you require any further information. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/contactarchives.htm
Can I view your documents on-line? A small selection of our collections can be viewed online by searching our image database. Some of our catalogue entries include images,
these can be searched from the main catalogue page. Other images are in the News, Events and Exhibitions section of the website.
You do not have what I am looking for. Where can I find it? We will do our best to help point you in the right direction to identify material for your search. We also have a useful links section on
our website which details a variety of points of interest for any researcher. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/associatedpages.htm
Can you help with my family history research? Yes, we have developed a family history guide that can be accessed on our website. The document offers an excellent introduction for
budding genealogists and includes a step-by-step guide for getting started. We also have a local and Scottish history guide and introductory
guide to palaeography which may be of use. All three can be accessed here. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/sourcetop.htm
How do I contact you or find further information? If there is anything you are still unsure of after reading this Frequently Asked Questions section then please look at our website
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives or get in touch with us by email at archives@dundee.ac.uk or by telephoning us on 01382 384095 (from within the UK) or +44 1382 384095 (from overseas).
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FAQs