Digital photography allowed at PRONI from today

Take your own device to PRONI research room

The new Statutory Rule The Public Use of the Records (Management and Fees) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2016 comes into effect at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) today. It introduces a new tariff for charges for photocopying, postage, research by staff etc, and some of the increases are quite significant, so worth noting if you don't want to find yourself financially embarrassed during a visit!

Access to all records online and at the Titanic Boulevard offices remains free of charge, however.

Another major change will be much more welcome. It allows researchers to use their own mobile, tablet or digital camera to photograph most documents (obviously not those with specified copyright restrictions). Previously, such photography had to be agreeed in advance by the Head of Public Services. From today, as part of the document ordering process, researchers will be required to sign a copying and copyright declaration as they collect documents they wish to photograph. Taking your own images means you'll avoid the new higher charges for using PRONI's photocopiers.