Research and Reference Services are provided to members of the public in accessing the Historical Collection at the Archives Unit and the Audiovisual Collection at the Audiovisual Unit.

At the Archives Unit the following services are provided:

1 on-site assistance in the Clinton Black Reading Room to members of the public in locating information and inspecting the records in accordance with the Archives Regulations. A member of staff on duty in the Reading Room at all times. Lists, finding aids and reference books are available for the use of researchers;

2 responding to reference enquiries received by telephone, online query
and fax. Those researchers who are unable to attend the Archives may call, write or use our on-line query feature. All on-line queries are responded to promptly to inform the researcher that their query has been received and let them know when a proper response will be available.

It should be noted that :
• When a request is received, a preliminary search of all inventories is usually done to see what information the Archives has in its holdings. Once the preliminary research is completed the researcher is informed as soon as possible;
• All telephone requests are dealt with within a day (24 hours) and all written requests are answered within a month;
• If a researcher requests copies of the information found, they are expected to pay a user fee.[link to user fees];
• Payment (for overseas researchers) should be made in the form of an International Postal or Money Order, addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The payment should however be sent to the Jamaica Archives, where it will be recorded and then transferred to the OPM.

3 Undertaking research in accordance with the schedule of fees.

4 reproductions of materials (microfilms, digital images, photocopies, photographs)

NB The copying of documents is done in keeping with the Copyright Act and in the case of records deposited from private persons and non-governmental institutions, in accordance with the terms of the particular deposit.