In response to COVID-19, we’re making some changes to the way we operate. These changes are intended to help create a safe environment for both visitors and staff so that we can reopen our doors and get back to the work we love.
The guidance below will help you prepare for your visit. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate these unprecedented circumstances.
Please do not book or attend an appointment if you have any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), if you are awaiting a test result, or if you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
For visitors to the Borthwick we are open Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 4pm. Please note that the search room and microfilm room are closed between 12.30pm to 1.30pm to accommodate staff lunch breaks and to allow us to clean tables and prepare work spaces for afternoon appointments.
For the safety of our visitors and staff, we are limiting the number of appointments available. There are two bookable sessions each day. These are from 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. All-day appointments are available subject to availability.
Please contact us to book an appointment, either via email or phone:
We're based in the University of York Library, on the Heslington West campus. Unless you are exempt from doing so, please wear a face covering when inside the Library.
Please tell staff at the Library entrance that you have an appointment at the Borthwick. Staff will also be available to direct you to the Borthwick reception and search room.
We will be able to respond to enquiries via email, telephone, post and social media during this time. We will be unable to complete searching or transcription and translation service requests at this time. Our copying service has been resumed.
Our online catalogue - Borthcat - is still available.
Email: borthwick-institute@york.ac.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uoyborthwick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UoYBorthwick
Many of our Parish registers, Bishops’ Transcripts and Marriage Bonds and Allegations are available via Find My Past, and our Cause Papers, Archbishops' Registers, and Retreat hospital archive are available, for free, 24/7 online.
We have introduced new document quarantine processes, installed new signs, perspex screens, and hand sanitiser stations. We ask you to practice good hand hygiene, maintain two metres distance from other people and take time to read our guidance. We will be cleaning our facilities between each session.
In order to ensure effective social distancing measures are in place, each morning and afternoon session will accommodate no more than four people at a time in the searchroom and two people at a time in the microform room.
We will be quarantining all documents, books, microfiche and microfilm for 72 hours after use. This is currently best practice across the archives sector.
In line with guidance you are required to wear a face covering when visiting the Borthwick Institute for Archives unless you are exempt from doing so.
No, you will only need to wear gloves if handling very delicate or photographic materials. We are providing sanitiser stations and cleaning facilities and are quarantining documents. We are following best practice guidance on limiting risks from the virus while also caring for the documents.
We ask all visitors to follow our Visitor Guidance which explains the safety measures that are in place. We will allocate seating to provide social distancing. Any concerns should be notified to a member of staff.
With your consent, we will hold your booking details relating to each visit for 21 days in order to comply with NHS Test and Trace guidelines.
Unfortunately, no. Reopening the search room by appointment only not only allows us to maintain safe numbers of visitors, it also gives us the time needed to ensure that documents are assessed before use. For safety reasons, we are also working with a reduced number of staff onsite. As a consequence, we are unable to admit visitors without an appointment.
Unfortunately, no. Due to reduced numbers of staff working in the search room at any one time, all documents must be retrieved in advance of your visit. We will not be able to retrieve documents for you during your visit. Retrieval in advance allows us to ensure that your documents are available and have been safely quarantined before use. It also ensures that you can make the most of your time with us. Our staff are available to help you select documents before your visit. Please contact us via email or phone.
In order to ensure that your documents are available and have been safely quarantined, we require that appointments are made no less than five working days in advance. We understand that this might feel like a long wait and thank you for your patience.
Information on how to search our online catalogue and learn more about our holdings is available. If you need any help or have any questions, please do get in touch via email or phone.
Lockers will be available and will be allocated on arrival. All lockers and keys will be thoroughly cleaned between each use.
Toilets will be available. The library cafe will be providing a takeaway service serving sandwiches and hot and cold snacks. Unfortunately however, no seating will be available in the cafe or at the Borthwick.
We advise you to bring a camera and purchase a photographic licence if you would like to take copies. We can take orders for digitised copies (where the document is suitable for this) but will not be able to provide copies during your visit. Any copies ordered will be sent on either to your email address, or by post with the addition of a postage fee.
For the safety of all of our visitors and staff, access to our paper finding aids and reference library is restricted to staff only. Many of our finding aids and other resources are available digitally. Please contact us for more information. Where this is not the case, our staff will be happy to search paper resources on your behalf.
Yes! We aim to be as helpful as possible. However, due to social distancing it will not be possible for us to stand or sit near you to give specific help or guidance.
We have measured the distance between seats and will be allocating specific seats to ensure distance and safe access. Each reader space is more than two metres apart. We have removed access to some readers and computers to ensure this distance is maintained.
Unfortunately, we have removed all the pencils. You will need to bring everything you need with you.
We can take contactless or card payments. Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash.
You’ll find a number of research guides on our website that are designed to help visitors discover and interpret the archives in our care.
A number of our archives also have dedicated search tools or are available to browse online.