Accessing the archives

Our archives and special collections can be explored both physically and remotely. You can find out more by making an appointment to visit our Archives Research Room, searching our online catalogue, and accessing information through our enquiry and reprographics services.

Research Room regulations Search our online catalogue Email us with enquiries

Visit our archives and special collections

Please email the Archives team at archives@surrey.ac.uk to make an appointment to visit our Archives Research Room or with any enquiries.

Enquiry service

Our enquiry service is open to anyone and can provide basic information on the materials we hold, offer help on how best to search our catalogue and can suggest sources from our holdings for particular research. We can also explain the process of obtaining copies of material and can arrange group and individual visits to the Research Room and talks on our collections. The enquiry service is the first point of contact if you are interested in borrowing items from our collections for exhibition.

If you have an enquiry please email us at archives@surrey.ac.uk.

Any personal data collected through our enquiry service is kept in accordance with UK Data Protection Legislation. For more information about what we do with your personal data see our privacy notice.

Viewing archive materials

Due to the unique nature of archive material, our collections can only be accessed in our Research Room and you will need to make an appointment to view them. Our Research Room opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm. Please email archives@surrey.ac.uk to make an appointment, giving us at least 24 hours notice.

Items from the collections are not available for borrowing. Find out more about copying material.

Before you come to the Research Room please use our online catalogue to help you find relevant material and their unique reference numbers. To allow us to retrieve the items from the archive please email us before your visit with the reference numbers, giving us as much notice as possible.

Please read our Research Room regulations before visiting.

Online resources

The Archives team have created online resources to support your use of archives and special collections:

Working with archives (PDF) explains what archives are and the practicalities of using them, as well as suggesting how you can effectively interpret archive material and use it to inform your own work
Referencing archives (PDF) outlines how to reference archives correctly in assignments and dissertations.

Reprographics and licensing

We can provide copies of material for personal research purposes and publication, in line with UK Copyright legislation and UK Data Protection legislation, and subject to the condition of the material and any restrictions agreed when the material was deposited. Digital photography permits are also available. Please email the Archives team at archives@surrey.ac.uk to discuss your reprographics request.

Type of copying	Fee (inc VAT)
Photocopying in black and white up to A3	10p per image
Photocopying in colour up to A3	20p per image
Digital image file delivered via email (low resolution PDF for private study and non-commercial research only; not publication quality or for multimedia use).	£2 per image
Handling / packing / postage fee, for postal orders	Dependent on order
Photography permit: Use of a digital camera or phone camera in the Research Room, of archive material only for purposes of non-commercial research and private study only. Because of copyright law, published reference books and topic files must be photocopied by staff and charged at photocopy prices.	£5 per day £10 per three days £2.50 per session for students
Research time charge (Minimum one hour at a time)	£25 per hour

A Copyright Declaration form must be completed and signed ahead of any copying of materials.

Study and Teaching use	Fee per image (inc VAT)
Digitisation charge of £2 per image may be applicable.
University of Surrey undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations/theses/conferences/presentations	No fee
University of Surrey staff for internal lecture use	No fee
External Academic, undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations/theses/conferences/presentations and external lecture use	£10

Publication/Commercial use	Fee per image (inc VAT)
Physical/electronic publication (book/magazine/article/brochure/catalogue) with single territory	£25
Physical/electronic publication (book/magazine/article/brochure/catalogue) with world rights	£50
Publication cover	£100
Commercial talk or lecture	£50
Educational website	£25
Commercial website	£50
Promotional use (including merchandise and publicity for exhibitions, conferences etc.)	£50
Television/broadcast usage - please contact the Archives and Special Collections for details.

Please note:

All publication fees are for one-off use only and the fee applicable will be determined by archives and special collections staff following supply of full information about intended use.

A publishing licence must be completed and signed and fees paid for (where required) with terms and conditions fully understood before orders can be processed.

Please contact the Archives and Special Collections (archives@surrey.ac.uk) to discuss your requirements if your intended use is not listed.