Copying services

Photocopies

Some records can be photocopied, but not all. The heat and pressure applied during copying can damage irreplaceable documents and bound volumes, and we may therefore have to turn down some requests for photocopies (see the following columns for possible alternatives).

We do not photocopy:
        * bound volumes
        * outsize documents (except O.S. maps)
        * fragile or crumbling documents
        * parchment
        * photographs
        * other items which might suffer damage.

However, thousands of records in our custody will be able to be photocopied for you: it all depends on size, format, and condition, but not necessarily age.

Price if ordered in the search room:
40p per sheet (whether A4 or A3)
+ 25p handling charge per document
Orders can be collected on a future visit or posted out to you (p & p extra)

If ordered by post or telephone:
40p per sheet (A4 or A3)
+ £1.50 handling charge per document
(inland p & p included, airmail extra)
We aim to complete photocopy orders of up to 20 copies within 6 working days

Self-service photocopying is not available

Print-Outs - microfilm and fiche

Many of the most popular archives, especially those vital to the genealogist, have been microfilmed, and print-outs on paper can be supplied. This will often overcome the problems about photocopying outlined above. Print-outs, like photocopies, repro-duce the original document exactly (albeit with some reduction in quality).

Print-outs can be made from
        * most parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials, from 1538
        * census returns, 1841-1891
        * wills and admons, 1508-1857
        * tithe awards: maps and apportionments, 1830s-1840s
        * O.S. maps, 1st edn. 25 inch, 1870s-1880s
        * IGI and GRO indexes
        * any other records on film or fiche

Note: One page of a register, census or will is usually one frame of film or fiche, and therefore one A4 print-out. For larger items, such as tithe awards, A3 may be preferable.

There is a self-service reader-printer in the search room:
40p per print-out (A4 or A3)

If processed by staff (ordered in the search room):
40p per print-out (A4 or A3)
+ 50p handling charge per film/fiche
Orders can be collected on a future visit or posted out to you (p & p extra)

Film or fiche print-outs ordered by post or telephone:
40p per print-out (A4 or A3)
+ £1.50 handling charge per film/fiche
(inland p & p included, airmail extra)
We aim to complete print-out orders of up to 20 copies within 15 working days

Photography

We can supply colour or black and white prints and slides, and colour transparencies. This service is more expensive, but is an option where a document cannot be photocopied and has not been microfilmed. Photography is carried out externally, approximately monthly, and some delay in processing orders may therefore occur.

Prices vary between about £12 and £50 depending on your requirements, e.g. size of print. Please ask for our photographic order form for full details.

We aim to fulfil photographic orders within 40 working days.

Tracing

If a map is too large to be photocopied but is not in fragile condition, you may be able to make a tracing of it during a visit to the Record Office. We can supply sheets of tracing paper at cost. We regret, however, that staff cannot undertake tracing for you.

Certificates

We can supply certificates of Berkshire parish register entries for official and legal purposes. These are hand-written on official forms and certified by the County Archivist or a Senior Archivist, and do not therefore show original writing or signatures. If the relevant register has been microfilmed, you may find that even for official purposes a cheaper print-out (see above) will suffice.

Prices correspond with those charged by local registrars and churches (inland p & p included, airmail extra):

Post-1837 marriage certificates:
£6.50 per certificate

Baptism and burial certificates (any date), and pre-1837 marriage certificates:
£8.00 per certificate

If a search is required to locate the entry in the register, a search fee of £7.50 per half hour or part thereof will also be charged.

Birth and death certificates
Although you can consult the General Register Office indexes of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales 1837-1997 on microfiche at Berkshire Record Office, we cannot supply certificates of civil registration.
However, we can give you the addresses of the relevant register offices

Certified Copies

Certified copies of other documents for legal or official purposes can also be ordered. Costs are calculated according to staff time spent on transcription, typing, and certification by the County Archivist, at £7.50 per half hour or part thereof.

Payment

We ask for payment in advance, but…
Please always ask for a precise quotation before sending any money. Please then make cheques payable to: Reading Borough Council.

Overseas customers must send payment in sterling drawn on a bank with a UK branch.
We regret that we cannot send invoices, or take payment by credit card.