Opening hours
The reading room is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays to Fridays.
Admission
Admission to the reading room is strictly at the discretion of the Archive Staff, and the Archive reserves the right to refuse admission to the reading room.
Registration of first time readers
All those visiting the Archive's reading room for the first time must complete a reader registration form and be issued with a reader's ticket. Readers should bring their reader's tickets with them on all subsequent visits, as the reader number on the ticket is required to request reserved items from the Archive collections.
Reader's tickets are non-transferable and are not forms of identification. The possession of a reader's ticket does not entitle the bearer to entry to the Archive.
Group visits
Visits by groups of 5 or more must be booked at least two days in advance. Bookings can be made by telephone or e-mail (info@iarc.ie).
Signing in
All readers must sign the visitors' book on each visit to the reading room.
Coats and Bags
Coats and bags must be left in the lockers provided in the basement cloakroom.
Locating material in the Archive
The Irish Architectural Archive's on-line catalogue is accessible at the public access terminals in the reading room.
In addition to the database, other finding aids include the card catalogue (in the process of being phased-out but still relevant especially for information on drawings) and individual collection lists.
If you have trouble finding material of relevance to your area of interest, please ask the staff member on duty.
Accessing material in the Archive
Archive holdings may be consulted only in the reading room.
To view material held by the Archive, other than material held in the reading room, readers must complete a call slip. Call slips are available in the reading room. Only 5 call slips may be submitted at any one time. Material requested on call slips will be made available in the reading room as soon as is practicable, but please note that waiting periods of up to one hour may be experienced.
In the case of drawings and some other categories of material, items requested before 2 pm will be available at 2.30 pm. Material requested after 2 pm will be available at 10 am the following morning.
Copying material in the Archive
A photocopier is available for public use in the reading room.
In order to comply with copyright legislation, all researchers must complete and sign the appropriate Copyright Declaration Form before photocopying any material held by the Irish Architectural Archive. All photocopying is at the discretion of the staff member on duty. Ask before copying anything.
The following items may not be photocopied: books, bound periodicals, maps, plans, drawings and original MSS. Pamphlets and press cuttings may not be copied if they are fragile or damaged.
Photographic copies of Archive holdings can be supplied. Order forms and current prices lists are available in the reading room.
Private cameras may be used in the Archive by appointment only. The use of private cameras is restricted to copying drawings or manuscripts material. Private cameras may not be used to copy photographs. No flash photographs is allowed, and no camera stands or tripods may be used. The Archive will levy a fee for the use of a private camera and for each image taken. Copyright in all images taken by private camera resides fully with the Irish Architectural Archive or the original copyright holder.
Using material in the Archive
Readers are responsible for all items issued to them until they have returned them to the reading room desk.
Restrictions controlling the use of material will be enforced on conservation and security grounds. Archival documents are irreplaceable and must be treated with respect.
Pencils only may be used in the reading room. Pencils and pencil sharpeners are available at the reading room desk. No glue, ink, correction fluid, scissors, or any substance or equipment which could damage material held in the Archive should be brought by readers into the reading room.
Tracing is strictly prohibited, as is the use of rulers, dividers etc to take measurements. Writing materials must not be placed on any book, manuscript, map, plan or drawing. Readers should not lean on maps, plans or drawings and should take care unrolling rolled items. No archival material should be placed on the floor.
No markers or place-holders should be inserted into books. Unopened or uncut books should be brought to the attention of the staff member on duty.
Readers are requested to keep photographs, documents and drawings in their numbered order. To avoid misplacement of photographs, readers are asked to take only one box file at a time from the shelves and to be careful to replace correctly photographs which have been removed from box file. Notices detailing the correct order are to be found one the inside lid of each box file.
No smoking is allowed in the reading room or any other part of the Archive.
Food and drink are not allowed in the reading room. Chewing gum is strictly prohibited.
The use of mobile telephones is prohibited in the reading room.
The use of personal stereos, tape recorders or portable typewriters is prohibited in the reading room. Laptop computers may be used with the prior permission of the staff member on duty.
Silence should be observed in the reading room.
Readers behaving in a manner likely to disturb others will be required to leave.