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Library and research facilities
The Archaeological Service houses an extensive collection of books (over 700 titles), including rare and long out-of-print works, of both local and wider interest. In addition, it subscribes to the principal academic journals. As well as the printed works, the archives of virtually all archaeological fieldwork carried out in the district are kept here.
Books
The books are arranged by theme, with sections on general methods and theory, period overviews and site reports, and other reference works. The coverage is specifically focused on British archaeology, especially of the south and east.
The particular strengths of the book holdings are a strong focus on the Iron Age and Romano-British periods and the inclusion of classic excavation reports in monograph that are no longer readily available.
Periodicals
The library subscribes to the principal period journals (Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, Britannia, Medieval Archaeology and Post-Medieval Archaeology) and other more general journals (Antiquity, Archaeologia, The Archaeological Journal, The Antiquaries’ Journal and Vernacular Architecture).
It also holds complete runs of Hertfordshire Archaeology and Bedfordshire Archaeology.
General periodicals stocked include British Archaeology and Current Archaeology.
Maps
There is a stock of maps, mostly of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, although the coverage is not comprehensive. There are also some historic printed maps.
‘Grey literature’
One of the main growth areas in archaeological writing in recent years has been the growth of so-called ‘grey literature’, effectively self-published reports by commercial units and individuals. We aim to stock every such ‘publication’ relevant to the district.
Manuscript archives
As well as published data, the Archaeological Service holds the archives of virtually all the fieldwork projects carried out in North Hertfordshire. These archives include the original site records (written records, drawing and photographs) as well as the artefacts and ecofacts recovered.
The archives are not stored on open shelves in the library as they are irreplaceable and some may be subject to rules of commercial confidentiality (which is usually taken as extending up to five years after the completion of the project). It is therefore advisable to ask about their availability before arranging a visit.
Parish files
An attempt has been made to simplify searches by setting up a system of parish files. Each of the thirty-seven parishes of the district has a folder containing basic information, including data from the English Place-Names Survey, the Victoria County History, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century historians and periodical publications.
Using the library
The library is situated at the Museums Resource Centre, Burymead Road, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1RT. The library is open for use by appointment only and is generally available during office hours on weekdays (not Tuesday afternoon or Thursday afternoon), although under special circumstances, it may be possible to open at a weekend.
The library is solely for reference and it is not possible to borrow books.
Facilities
There is a photocopier (10p per sheet), free internet access and document scanning up to A4 size (£1 per scan + cost of media if not supplied by the user).
Refreshments (tea and coffee) are available for a small charge.
There is ample car parking.
Costs
Use of the library is free for academic and personal research. Commercially funded research (for Desk-Based Assessments, Evaluations etc.) is charged at £27.50 + costs of photocopying/scanning.
Custom searches
If you cannot visit the Museums Resource Centre, it is possible for staff and volunteers of the Archaeological Service to carry out a search for you. Dependent on the nature of your research and the length of time it will take us to find what you need, there may be charges. Customised searches (for non-commercial research) are free for the first twenty minutes. Thereafter, there will be a charge of £20 per hour.
