PRONI reopens

[bloodties]

Hi
Thank you very much for info on parking and video links. Chris your interview with Stephen Scarth showing you all the new facilites at PRONI and how to use them was good to watch especially the moving desks it now looks so bright and welcoming cant wait to visit,your blog  also made very interesting reading.Nice to know you went to visit the grave of George Best.

     regards   

[liscoole]

What a great blog! Thanks Chris! I have to say the new place looks very inviting! I thought I saw a photo of a new microfiche machine?? Can it be true? Have they really replaced those awful dinosaurs i often wrestled with in the past?? 

[chrispaton]

Oh they are all new...!

Chris

[jwaugh]

Hi

Yes all new Microfilm readers and two new printers as well. I must say that it is a really nice room with light coming in from large windows.  Far better that the dark microfilm room at Balmoral Avenue.

I can recommend the cafe on the ground floor which is great. They also seem to have relaxed a few security measures as well. After you get your new ID card you don't have to sign in and out anymore. You leave your coats and bags in the Lockers just as before, make sure you have £1 for the lockers, (you get it back when you finish) you then make your way upstairs (stairs or the lift) to the search room. You use your ID card to get access to the Search and Reading rooms.

There also seem to be some new staff who are very helpful. Good to see some of the old unfriendly unhelpful staff and security banished to the back rooms.

The only down side I can see is that there could be more room at the Microfilm readers. They are a bit close to each other and not much space if you want the spread out your documents.

John

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
    I have been surprised at the comments mentioning unfriendly staff at the old PRONI. I have been going there for three years and have always found the staff helpful and friendly. They have shown me how to use the computer systen to find documents and one even took time to explain the reason for the time it was going to take to move to the new building. I hope most of them are still there.

Regards

[liscoole]

I never found the staff unfriendly as such, just the security! I nearly got thrown out once for hanging a cardigan over the back of a chair, I had no idea it wasnt allowed and the room was so hot and stuffy. I was very embarrassed when the security guard came over to me. 

[jwaugh]

Kingskerswell i did not want to say where the staff operated but I did find a few who were very unhelpful at times. I did see one of them today but not working in the public areas. The staff in the Search room are very helpful and have been able to help me with my research. (Opps you might have now guested where the other staff operated, oh well)

Liscoole you still can't hang your cardigan on the back of the chair in the reading room but you could be ok in the Search and Microfilm area as security don't patrol this area (well not when i have been there).

In the search room there are about 10 to 15 computers for internet access and then about 20 on the other side of the room for you to order your records and wills. Also desks for you to use your own laptop on the free wireless system throughout the building.(not tried that yet)

No more paper documents to fill in and get stamped either in the Microfilm area. Its help yourself as long as you put a red microfilm case in to replace the one your are taking out.

John

[aghadowey]

Wonder if that was the same one who scolded me when I took off my cardigan on a very, very warm day  

On the whole I've always found the staff very helpful except the last time I went to Balmoral Avenue we had nothing but problems- documents left at the wrong table (oh, I put it there 30 minutes ago for you, sorry, wrong table), wrong documents appeared (oh, I see the number now), documents couldn't be located (it'll probably turn up after we move- try then), etc.

[Elwyn Soutter]

I visited yesterday and found the staff all very helpful. Some were clearly new and not 100% familiar with the system but all went out of their way to tell me what they were doing to find the information I needed. I couldn’t fault them at all. There were numerous new visitors from GB, the US etc and the staff were excellent in helping them with their first enquiry, so that they could then carry on without assistance. I was impressed with that.

There were a couple of times when, briefly, all the microfilm readers were occupied but generally there were always a few to spare. There were always plenty of internet and general search computers spare.

Not sure about the café. It is pleasant and airy, and a nice place to eat but some of the hot food looked a bit tired. I had a pie with overcooked potatoes and very tired broccoli. Many people had their own sandwiches. That, combined with a coffee from the café, might be a wiser option unless the hot food improves.

I overheard a few conversations about where to park. Several people had found free parking nearby but there was speculation that it wouldn’t be free for too long. Hard to say. I went by train to Bridge End and felt that the signage from there could be better. Someone unfamiliar with the area might be confused as to where to go. It took me 9 minutes to walk from Bridge End to PRONI.