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Planning the project

Firstly you will need a clear idea of what you want to research and for this you should consider:

• Is my topic too broad? If you choose a broad topic such as the history of women in Wales, it is unlikely that you will have enough time to look at all the necessary information to produce a good project or you will get bogged down in information, whereas if you narrowed it, for example to women in a particular industry or town, you will have a greater chance of success. Your teachers should be able to advise you on this.

• Is the information available and where? It may be that the records that you need do not survive, are unavailable, are difficult to use, or are located elsewhere, which may mean you cannot do the necessary research. You can check if we hold relevant records on our online place, person and subject indexes or by contacting a member of staff. Remember that information, especially background information, may be more readily available and easily understood in books that your local library hold, or on the internet (though be careful to check the sources of information, especially information on the internet).

Visiting the archive

• Before visiting the archive make sure you have all the necessary background information so that you can locate the most relevant records. Such basic information includes: key dates; and names of places, people, and organisations.

• If you have not used the archives before, you will need time to familiarise yourself with the searchroom procedures such as: the CARN ticket system; opening times; the rules (for example: pencils only, no food and drink, and switch off mobiles); how to locate and order records; and the different sources that are available, such as documents, maps, microfilms, and library books. Follow the link 'Opening Hours' for more details, and searchroom staff will further help you on your visit.

• Searchroom staff will also advise you how to use records and how to handle original material if necessary.

• When using records, always write down the reference number so that you can demonstrate where you got your information from and so that you can find the information again if necessary.

• It is not always possible to get photocopies of material, for example: for bound volumes we only copy up to 4 pages and we do not copy fragile material. Also staff may not have enough time to do copying on the day, so consider these factors when planning your time.