Reading Room
Every visitor may consult archive material, photographs, books and newspapers in the reading room of the Regional Archive. Furthermore, a computer is available for the visitor with which various catalogues and databases of the Regional Archive can be searched. In addition, the internet can be surfed for supplementary information.

The most important source is the General Index. This collection contains hundreds of thousands of cards, upon which information from just about all conceivable genealogical sources can be found: the registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, the Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths, conveyance registers, notarial cartularies and many other registers and sources. A list of these is available from the reading room assistant. 

Cloakroom and Visitors' Registration
Before you enter the Regional Archive reading room, you must leave your bag and coat in the cloakroom. We have a few lockers available in which you can safely store your bag and other valuables. The archive does not accept any responsibility for loss or theft.

When you visit the Regional Archive for the first time in a calendar year, the reading room assistant will ask you to fill in a visitor's card. On this you state your name, address and the purpose of your visit. The information is used solely for statistical purposes. By completing and signing the card you also declare that you are familiar with the established rules and that you will comply with these. With a subsequent visit stating your name will be sufficient.

Smoking Ban and Silence
The Regional Archive is a public building as a result of which a total smoking ban is applicable. Archive research requires concentration and quiet surroundings. Disturb others therefore as little as possible and speak in a soft tone.

Requests
For the requesting of material you are required to make use of the form provided for the purpose. No more than two items may be requested per occasion. No material is extracted between the hours of 12.00 and 13.00, and from 15.30 onwards. Archive records which are in too poor a condition will not be made available for inspection.

Photocopies
Insofar as the physical condition and the dimensions of the records, books and pictures permit, copies may be made upon request and against payment of the established fees.

Handling of the Archive Material
The archives and collections under the management of the Regional Archive are unique and irreplaceable. In many cases, due to their age, they are extremely vulnerable. This means that the material must be handled with care. Future generations of visitors must also be able to consult the archives and collections. For this reason it is forbidden to handle the material in such a way that damage could be caused in any way whatsoever.

The general index is kept in large filing cabinets. You may remove the drawers from the cabinets, but the cards may not be removed from the drawers. If you slide the support a little towards the back of the drawer, you can open the row of cards sufficiently such that you can read them without having to remove them. The use of pencil is advised.

In an extreme case you could be refused access to the reading room.

Food and drinks
There is a coffeebreak from 10.00 till 10.15. The employees and the volunteers drink coffee in the volunteer space. When you want to drink some coffee, tea or warm chocolate milk with us, please indicate it at the studyroom employee. The price of coffee amounts to € 0,50, of tea € 0.20 and chocolate milk € 0.40, Between 12.30 and 13.00 there is a lunchbreak. You can drink and eat in the volunteer space. At noon the tea pause is from 14.30 to 14.45, When you want to drink some with us, please indicate it.

Complaints
It is possible that you may have complaints about the service provided by the Regional Archive. You may lodge your complaint in the first instance with the assistants or with the Regional Archivist. If your complaint is not handled to your satisfaction, you may address your complaint to the secretary of the Board of the Regional Archive, who may be contacted via P.O. Box 79, 3230 AB in Brielle.