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Handling documents

Everyone visiting The National Archives has a responsibility to follow good document handling practice and help preserve the documents in our care.

The National Archives’ collections are publicly accessible, so the most significant risk to their ongoing condition comes from use. To ensure that documents remain accessible to everyone, both at present and in the future, this guidance underlines the fundamentals of good document handling.

This guide also covers how to handle specific types of documents and materials at The National Archives.