Posted on the 12th of Oct 2017
The results of the UK Visitor Survey 2016 are now available
In 2016, the Berkshire Record Office took part in a national survey of visitors to UK archives. Below are the results for the BRO which you are welcome to read if you would like to.
Headline scores for BRO
• Our service was rated 9.5 out of 10 for the archive overall
• Our service was rated 9.8 out of 10 for the availability of staff
• Our service was rated 9.8 out of 10 for the attitude of staff
• Our service was rated 9.8 out of 10 for the quality and appropriateness of staff advice.
Satisfaction ratings were high in most areas. Those over 90% were as follows:
• the appearance of the building at 91%
• the physical access to and in the building at 92%
• the welcome and reception of the archive at 91%
• the availability of computers at 91%
• the availability of seating at 94%.
Only one area was low; self-service photography at 54%.
Our typical visitor:
• arrives by private transport (67%)
• stays 3.1 hours (89%)
• undertakes family history research (39%).
The survey indicates that for 54% of our visitors, coming to BRO was the sole reason that they were in Reading that day.
Our visitors were also asked what benefits they had experienced from visiting the archive:
• 100% agree that using archives improved knowledge of their area of interest
• 100% agree that they developed news skills or improved existing skills
• 100% agree that using archives gave them a greater understanding of the community, its history and people
• 100% say that they enjoyed themselves
• 98% agree that using archives inspired them to find out more.
14% of our visitors were here for the first time. Of those for whom it was not their first time, 80% had visited us before and 58% of those were regular visitors.
52% of visitors prepared for their visit by checking online and 60% emailed or telephoned in advance.