Many Record Offices are part of CARN.  Some have their own system, sometimes
because they want photo ID, which applies to the National Archives.  Others
are (at least in theory) only open to academics, not the public generally,
and require a recommendation or reference, for example British Library and
National Library of Wales.  On local archives service (which has since
joined CARN) used to be very happy with their own library service's library
cards as ID, though they are usually not accepted, because it is not clear
how good the original ID may have been.  When I had to renew a local
membership at another record office, a CARN ticket was taken as ID, though
not on the list.

I consider that the archives centre were being most unreasonable not to
accept the ID that you had, at least to issue you with a temporary ticket,
particularly when it was obvious that you were hundreds of miles from home.
I would suggest a polite (but firm letter) to the director of the museum or
the chairman of their trustees, setting out your experience.  It strikes me
that you have suffered the results of junior staff, who have been given a
set of rules and are applying them inflexibly.  My experience is that those
more senior can be more flexible.

On the other hand, in going to a new archives centre, it is usually best to
write or phone in advance, in case there are difficulties, such as documents
not being kept on site.

Peter King
49, Stourbridge Road,
Hagley,
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY9 0QS
01562-720368
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Martin Roe
Sent: 06 August 2008 11:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Rant


That would be a scheme like the County Archive Research Network card which
many record offices now insist users have. One card for access to all
participating archives.

A quick web search will show that many record offices are members of the
scheme but i was unable to find a central list of members which would be
useful.

Martin RoeMeerstone Archaeological Consultancy
http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/meerstone.htmLead Mining in the
Yorkshire Dales, http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk> Date: Wed, 6 Aug
2008 10:59:26 +0100> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Rant>
To: [log in to unmask]> > Dear list,> > My first rant and
possibly my only rant, but we shall see; it does have a > purpose though and
has been building up over the years. Presumably it > affects other list
members to a greater or lesser extent.> > I'm just back from holiday, a tour
of the North East with my partner. Part > of her family stopped there on the
way down from Scotland and worked at > Dinnington Colliery (now Brunswick
village). We eventually stopped at > Woodhorn Colliery to look at the
archive centre there, hoping for great > things from an archive based at a
former colliery. But to use the archive we > had to register, no problem for
my partner but hard for me as I no longer > drive; I didn't have a spare
utility bill with me nor my passport despite > being outside Cornwall. I had
other identification with me that wasn't > acceptable - Cornwall library
card, Cornwall Record Office card, British > Library card and National
Archives card. All of these require the same > identification to acquire of
course, resulting in a very silly situation in > my eyes. Paul Brough, I
know you're out there somewhere, why can't you and > your archival buddies
get together and organise a national scheme for our > national archives (and
National Archives?) and issue me, as a bona fide > researcher, with one card
that I can take to any library or archive, hold up > and be told "that will
do nicely". I've been researching for 25 years now > and have been the owner
of a great many library or reader cards; in 25 years > time, if I survive
that long, I really don't want to be in the position > where I have so many
cards that I can play patience while waiting for my > documents.> > End of
rant. Sue didn't find any information and I caught a cold.> > > Pete Joseph
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