To order a copy of a document, please contact us, or speak to a member of staff during your visit. We will advise on options for copying, which can vary depending on the format, size and condition of the item in question.

For the cost of obtaining copies, please see our fees and charges.

Documents

Any documents from our archive collections (deeds, maps, photographs etc) will need to be copied in one of two ways:

• A member of staff will either photocopy the document, or make a copy using our digital camera, depending on the format of the document
• Visitors can take copies using their own camera after purchasing a photo licence

Copies made by staff using digital camera can be provided as prints, or as electronic copies on CD or by email.

A photo licence can purchased either for a whole day or a week, allowing visitors to take as many photos as they require during that period.

Please note that certain documents or collections may have restrictions on copying due to copyright or their terms of deposit. This is often the case with photographs and architect's plans in particular. Please contact us for more information.

Print publications

Items from the local studies library (books, magazines, periodicals, leaflets etc) can usually be photocopied. Some large or tightly-bound items may not be suitable for photocopying.

A self-service, coin-operated photocopier is available for visitors to the History Centre.

Copyright regulations typically allow up to 5% (or one chapter/article) of a publication to be copied for private study or research.

Microfilm

Sources on microfilm can be copied on our reader-printer machines, allowing visitors to make their own prints of pages from microfilmed documents.

Staff can also provide print copies from microfilm.

Certified copies and certificates

• Certified copies of various documents can be requested for legal or official purposes. The copy of the original document is certified as a true copy of the original document

• Certificates of baptism, marriage and burial entries in Dorset parish registers can be supplied for legal or official purposes. These are handwritten copies of the original entry on a printed form (they do not show the original handwriting)

N.B. For copy birth and death certificates contact the relevant local registry office, or the General Register Office (opens in a new window) .