Study room regulations

This document sets out the conditions governing the use of the Study Rooms of the Department of Prehistory & Europe. Please read it carefully and indicate your acceptance by signing the appropriate section of the 'Application to Study Antiquities' form.

1. The Bloomsbury Study Room is open Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 16.30 pm. The Study Room is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Public Holidays and other days as may be decided. The Study Room may be contacted by telephone +44(0)20 7323 8629 or fax +44(0)20 7323 8496.

The Frank's House and Blythe Road outstations may operate more restricted student opening hours depending on staff resources. Please contact the Department ahead of your visit for information on student times. The Study Room may be contacted by telephone +44(0)20 7323 8100.

2. All students wishing to study antiquities in the Study Room must apply in writing giving at least seven working days notice. The application should indicate the purpose of the research and the objects to be consulted, correct identification by registration or catalogue number is essential. The number of antiquities that can be brought to the Study Room on any one occasion will be restricted to a manageable quantity.

3. Students who are not already known personally to a member of the Department must provide a letter of introduction or other reference from their Professor, supervisor or other qualified person.

4. On arrival all visitors to the Study Room must write their name, home address, any temporary address in this country and telephone number where contact can be made, in block letters in the visitors' book in the waiting room. Evidence of identity (e.g. passport, driving licence) will be required before admittance.

5. Students are requested, where possible to leave all coats, umbrellas and bags in the main Museum Cloakrooms. Visitors' bags brought to the Study Room may be searched on arrival and departure. Personal belongings, except materials and equipment to be used in the study, must be kept away from the area in which the objects are studied and will be deposited in a designated area. The Trustees of the Museum accept no liability for any loss or damage to the personal possessions of any student.

6. All materials and equipment must be approved by the Study Room Supervisor before use. No metal measuring instruments or template formers may be brought into contact with objects. Ink, in bottles or fountain pens, must not be used and when consulting archive material pencil must be used. Tracing around or taking rubbings from objects, is not permitted, except by arrangement with the supervisor.

7. All objects must be transferred from storage areas or display by curatorial staff. Students are required to acknowledge receipt of objects by signing at the bottom of the 'Application to Study Antiquities' form.

8. Visitors are not permitted in storage areas unless accompanied by a curator.

9. All objects must be handled as little and as carefully as possible. If they have to be handled then clean hands are essential and some objects may only be handled whilst wearing gloves. These will be specified by the Study Room Supervisor and suitable gloves provided. Any handling instructions given by curatorial staff must be observed and the handling of objects will be monitored by Study Room staff.

10. If it is necessary to pick up an object for examination, it must be held over the foam sheet provided.

11. Objects not being worked on must be returned to the drawer or tray from which they came. Antiquities must not be left unprotected on tables.

12. Objects and books must not be removed from the study tables without permission from the Study Room Supervisor.

13. Accidents, whether resulting in damage to objects or not, must be reported immediately to the Study Room Supervisor.

14. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the Museum. Food and drink must not be consumed at the study tables.

15. Students must ask for permission to take photographs, for personal study purposes, and this is at the discretion of the relevant curator. Permission is granted on condition that extreme care is exercised in setting up the camera and handling the objects and that other students are not inconvenienced. Alternatively, the Museum's Photographic Service undertakes public orders, please ask the supervisor for information.

16. Visitors may not leave the Study Room until the Study Room Supervisor is satisfied that all objects provided for study are accounted for and in good order. (This process can take some time, and you may be asked to conclude your studies early in order for this object check to be completed). Students should ensure that the Supervisor signs the application form acknowledging their return.

17. It may be necessary to close the Study Room without notice in case of shortage of staff or an emergency e.g. fire or security alert. The Museum has set procedures to be followed in an emergency and for your own safety, any instructions given by museum staff must be acted upon immediately. This may involve evacuating the building and students must accept that there may not be time for the dismantling of apparatus such as cameras.

18. Failure to observe these rules may result in the temporary or permanent withdrawal of study facilities. Visitors who are not already known personally to a member of the Department must provide a letter of introduction or other reference from a Professor, supervisor or other qualified person.