Terms of access to stored collections at Stevenage

General terms

The National Army Museum encourages access to its stored collections through the viewing room at its storage facility in Stevenage.

Access is free and by prior appointment only.
Access is available Monday to Thursday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.
Requests must be made at least ten working days in advance and can be accommodated subject to availability.
Researchers can only view up to eight items in each session. Exceptions may be made for groups of medals, badges, and prints and drawings at our discretion.
Extra items cannot be requested during the research visit. All requests for material must be made in advance of the booked viewing appointment.
Researchers must include the object number and collections inventory description when making a request.
Objects will not be removed from display unless in exceptional circumstances.
Objects will not be transported between sites for viewings.
Researchers with additional access requirements should include them at the point of request, so we can ensure that their needs are met.

By using the viewing room, researchers agree to comply with these terms of access:

To ensure the safety and security of our collections, all coats, bags and laptop bags must be left in the lockers provided by the viewing room. A transparent bag may be used for laptops, pencils and notebooks.
Researchers may only use pencils and laptops for study in the viewing room.
No food or drink (including bottled water) is allowed in the viewing room.
Researchers must not bring in material considered historical militaria like those held in the National Army Museum collection. Historical books may be brought in, but must be declared to staff upon arrival.
Mobile phones are permitted, but must be left on silent.
Headphones may be used, but at a volume inaudible to others.
Researchers should treat the viewing room, staff and fellow researchers with respect always in line with the code of conduct for visitors.

The care and conservation of the Museum's collections items override the right to public access. Materials requested by the public will only be provided for study if Museum staff and/or management believe the object is safe to be handled and not harmful to health.
All researchers are expected to handle objects under the guidance of staff and with due care and diligence in line with the provided handling guidelines. Researchers must take every care to avoid removing, damaging or marking any collections items.
Damage or theft of material is an offence and those responsible will be prosecuted.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to comply with the relevant legislation on copyright and data protection.
Photography taken with the researchers’ own devices in the viewing room must not use flash.
Photography taken with the researchers' own devices is only permitted for personal study use. Any photography intended for commercial use must be discussed with the Picture Library.

All visitors to National Army Museum sites must act in accordance with the security policies and procedures, as well as the general code of conduct for visitors.
Security staff reserve the right to inspect your personal possessions on arrival and when leaving the site, and at any other time upon request.