National Library & Archives

General

For over a century manuscripts, plans, maps, photographs, films and printed works have been actively collected and preserved on behalf of the Manx Nation. Housed within the highest level of modern archival storage, these now form a rich central resource of information on all aspects of Manx heritage, history, landholding, law, folklore, government, international trade and relations, language and genealogy.

The public reading room is open ‘free-of-charge’ to Island residents and visitors, and every year many thousands of people make use of it for their research.

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

The facility will be closed to undertake the annual review of collections, from Monday 23rd January 2012 to Saturday 28th January 2012 inclusive. A limited service of production of registered deeds for legal purposes will be available daily, on request, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.

Registration

On arrival all new visitors must complete a Registration Form and you will be asked to produce proof of identity. Everyone registering is issued with a Readers’ Card, displaying your Name and Membership Number. Please remember to bring this with you when you visit as we will need your number when you request items from our Library and Archive collections. This registration also covers membership of the iMuseum.

On registering you will be signing to accept our general terms and conditions including copyright restrictions (as detailed in our Guide to Using the iMuseum & Reading Room). To receive your card, please provide proof of identity (driving licence, utility bill or equivalent showing your current address). If you are under 16 we will also need a consent form signed by your parent or guardian. If you are a visitor to the island and you are unlikely to use our service again you will be afforded temporary membership and not issued a card.

Bibliographies And Public Information Sheets

Bibliographies

Public Information Sheet

Manx National Heritage Library Bibliographies and Information sheets have been developed in response to frequently asked questions from visitors and researchers and will be expanded as new topics arise.

They are primarily intended as aids for personal visitors in accessing the collections. They are periodically updated as new information comes to light and new items are accessioned. Please check the end of each leaflet for date of last revision.

Some material particularly printed books and articles may also be available through your local library service, at national libraries such as The British Library or specialist institutions such as The Imperial War Museum

Copying and loans

Please note that we are a National reference library and do not lend through the Inter Library Loans system. However we will provide small quantities of photocopying (subject to condition of original material and copyright restrictions). For details on our current charges, please use this hyperlink.

Requests for photocopies from outside the Isle of Man should be accompanied by an A4 envelope and International Reply Coupons which are obtainable from your local post office (two for surface, four for bulky air mail). Please note UK stamps are not valid here. At present we do not e-mail copies so please include a return postal address.

Research

Due to the volume of enquiries received and limited staff and resources we are unable to offer a research service to enquirers. Off Island researchers will need to arrange for a local agent to work on their behalf.

The library can help by providing lists of genealogists and land record researchers who undertake work for a fee. Conditions and terms need to be obtained direct.

We also provide details on request for the Isle of Man Family History Society.

For other topics The Centre for Manx Studies may be able to suggest an appropriate local contact from its list of active researchers.