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Archive and Library
Archive and Library
What is it?
Archives and Libraries are generally physical locations in which there are expansive collections of certain objects, most commonly books and historical records. There can be more specific types of archives and libraries with more specialist content, but the most largest and most popular types encompass a wide selection of topics.
What does it involve?
Visiting an archive or a library generally comes from a desire to further research a specific subject, but it can also be to use the resources available, such as computers, scanners or a newspaper microfiche machine.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Libraries are incredibly important places for learning, as they can provide a safe space for studying and the freedom for the students to educate themselves in pretty much whatever topic they have interest in. A lot of libraries and archives also put on activities and groups to encourage independent reading and learning.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn’t need to provide any equipment for a visit to a library or an archive! The venue should have everything you need, but if you have a specific study activity in mind you should always check beforehand to see what they are set up for.
Who is it suitable for?
Archives and libraries are generally reasonably quiet places, so noisier groups of young children may not be as welcome – however, it will depend on the venue, as some will have dedicated children’s corners!
Costs?
Libraries are generally free to access! Some more specialist archives may have an entry fee, but if you research beforehand you shouldn’t come across any surprise costs.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Make sure to tailor any trips to an archive or a library to the needs and interests of the group of students!
How do we include?
Most venues will have great disabled access! Everybody should be able to join in with a visit, but always check beforehand if you have concerns about your group of students.
Doing it abroad?
There are libraries and archives all around the world, and visiting one whilst abroad can be fantastic for getting some more detailed information on local history and culture!
Main website:
Consult individual venue websites to see their specifics.
Venues with this Activity
"Something for everyone of all ages" is the motto of Sidmouth Museum through its interpretation of Natural History and the Jurassic Coast.
Interactive and stimulating tours of the historic university where much of Harry Potter was filmed! Like stepping into their favourite films. Most tours are for 10+ but Family Tours in holidays welcome 5+.
A jewel of a museum in a lovely Georgian town
Set in a handsome, grade II listed townhouse on Swaffham’s Georgian Market Place, Swaffham Museum has elegant rooms housing rich collections and 21st century displays with lots for all the family to enjoy.
Find out how Swaffham man Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen and see remarkable archaeological finds from the local Swaffham area too.
Discover more about England's heritage from the English Heritage Archive. We hold over 12 million photographs, plans, drawings, reports and publications on architecture, archaeology, historic buildings and social history.
Touch History at The Hive
Come to Explore the Past at The Hive and touch history on our multi-touch table which showcases the resources we have for you to research and enjoy in the building and which highlights heritage sites throughout Worcestershire.
No. 1 Royal Crescent is a superb example of how Bath was developed in the 18th Century. It was built to the designs of John Wood the Younger in 1767 – 1774 as the first house in the Royal Crescent, a Bath stone crescent of thirty houses with a uniform Palladian design to the principal facade.
One of Norfolk and England’s greatest heroes
The Nelson Museum celebrates the life and times of Admiral Lord Nelson. Find out about his remarkable naval career, the sea battles he won, his Norfolk childhood, scandalous love life and untimely death at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Packed with dramatic and moving details the museum also offers ships' games, family fun days and a garden for picnics.
The MCC Museum was opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1953 and is one of the oldest sporting museums in the world.
Wilberforce House is the birthplace of William Wilberforce, famous campaigner against the slave trade.
Admission to Wilberforce House is free. The museum tells the story of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and its abolition, as well as dealing with contemporary slavery. Galleries also offer a fascinating glimpse into West African culture.
Come and find out about the Scottish Parliament. We've got games, stuff to help you with coursework, posters for the walls of classrooms and lots more!
Our education programmes are run for schools, colleges and other educational groups who are interested in finding out more about the work of Parliament.
St Bartholemew's is the largest NHS Trust in the UK serving a population of 2.5 million in east London and beyond and our hospitals have long and important histories.
The Norfolk Record Office holds millions of documents, filling almost 10 miles of shelves. They have been created by a variety of organizations and people, past and present, range in date from the eleventh century to the twenty-first and relate to every town and parish in Norfolk.
Lancashire Archives collects unique, historic records that reflect Lancashire and Lancashire life - past and present. These cover church registers, historic images of Lancashire, the North West Sound Archive, police records and old maps of the region.
Arrangements may be made for groups to visit Lancashire Archives
Enriching our future by preserving our past
Lincolnshire Archives was established as a county service in 1948 with the bringing together of the records collected by the Lindsey, Kesteven and Holland County Councils, and the Lincoln Diocesan Record Office. The Archives service was known as the Lincolnshire Archives Committee.
The Newsam Library and Archives holds extensive collections of current and historical materials on education and related areas of social science.
In addition to supporting the work of staff and students at the UCL Institute of Education, it welcomes enquiries from all scholars, researchers, and others in the community with an interest in education.
Explore history, art & design, technology and much more through our fascinating collections.
Strategically positioned atop Portsdown Hill, with panoramic views across the Meon Valley and Portsmouth Harbour, Fort Nelson is an historic monument, restored to how it would have been in the 1890s. Visitors can access most areas of the fortifications and see how the Fort would have operated.
General Collection
Heritage centre at Llanberis, bringing back to life the inheritance of the North Wales slate industry.
Dinorwig Quarry closed in 1969. Today, rather than fashioning wagons and forging rails, the workshops tell a very special story: the story of the Welsh slate industry.
Stratford Armouries is a truly unique museum set in 75 acres of rolling Warwickshire countryside.
The galleries house a range of world-class exhibits that will amaze the whole family.
We are a commercial archaeological and heritage team offering a competitive, high-quality service across the Midlands. We are pragmatic and client-centric and we work on behalf of our private and public clients to achieve their required outcomes.
We gather, keep and share historic archive collections relating to Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire - and local and family history resources relating to Gloucestershire.
The archives are kept at our main Alvin Street site in Gloucester and you can use them in our public research room.
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