Services provided by Wirral Archives

Wirral Archives offer a range of services:

• public search room where original records can be consulted
• research advice for new and experienced visitors
• free use of the search room computers, with free access to family history websites, Ancestry and Find my Past
• microfilm and microfiche readers
• copying service: photocopies, laser copies and photography options are available - ask staff for details of fees
• research: see our Enquiries Policy for further details
• group visits can be arranged: for more information, contact us
• school visits welcomed, with hands-on activities available
• research service for those who cannot visit in person

Reprographics fees

• all prices given are inclusive of current rate of VAT (20 per cent)
• prices do not include postage and packaging
• some documents are fragile and cannot be reproduced
• prices are a guide only. Quotations may be higher, and concessions may be negotiated for academic and charitable causes
• an additional handling fee will be applied – 20 per cent of total cost or £5 (whichever is greater)

The types of reprographics we provide

• photocopies and digital copies (scans and digital camera): A4 and A3, black-and-white and colour
• we use the Printing Department for photographic quality prints: A4 and A3; black-and-white and colour
• We use an external company for photographic quality prints over A3 size, in either black-and-white and colour. Quotations are variable, depending on machine size and type (flat bed or roll scanner), colour type (line, block, full), paper quality, etc.

Examples of fees

• house plans – the cost is dependent on the size of the original plan, so a quote will be obtained: the price of a house plan in colour starts from £20
• posters – individual quotes to be obtained

Ships’ plans

• Ships’ plans – £15 for plans up to 10 feet, the cost is higher for plans over 10 feet (usually black and white) – a quote will be obtained
• Handling fee for ships’ plans – 20 per cent or £20 (whichever is the greater)

Photocopies and printout fees

Images produced by us and sent to researchers

• For images produced by us by photocopier, digital camera or scanner, and emailed or posted to researchers, the fees are as above, plus the handling fee of 20 per cent of total cost or £5 (whichever is the greater), plus any postage and packing. (The cost of a CD is £2 and memory sticks are from £4.)
• Newspapers and other poor quality items are half price. (Newspapers cannot be photocopied or scanned.)

Using your own camera

Wirral Archives no longer charges researchers for the use of their own camera or mobile phone to take images of documents, although they are free to make a donation if they wish.

Researchers will need to complete a Copyright Declaration Form if the documents are still in copyright, stating that the digital copies are for their personal use only.

Facility fee for commercial filming by television production companies

£50 per day

Items for sale

These are full colour photographic-quality images, on card, produced for us in quantity by the Printing Department:

Commercial reproduction

• large scale publication of book with large print run, magazine, television, film, website = £50 per image, black and white or colour, and copy of the book or magazine
• small scale publication of academic or local history book or article with small print run = copy of the book or article

Electronic devices

A circuit breaker is required for any device e.g. laptop or charger which requires plugging into the mains in the Search Room. We have two in the Search Room which are free to use.

Digital Cameras

Digital cameras may be used if the item to be photographed is out of copyright. We recommend that you use a digital camera if you would like copies from our newspapers, owing to their fragile condition. The fee for the use of digital cameras is given above.

It is possible to plug in laptops and digital cameras in the Search Room – they just need to be used with one of our circuit breakers (i.e. RCDs, or Residual Current Devices). Please ask at the desk for one.