CARN ticket

CARN stands for County Archives Research Network.

This is a nationwide scheme which certain local authority archive facilities may opt in to. It provides a single membership card for all these facilities. Holders of a CARN membership card will be permitted to use the facilities at a participating archive without signing up and obtaining a new card for each one.

The CARN ticket is now seemingly being phased out and being replaced by the Archive Card, but it appears that non-expired CARN tickets are still accepted; and that some archives that accepted CARN tickets are not accepting the new Archive Card.

Joining

You can obtain a CARN ticket at any participating archive facility. You will need proof of identity. Note that a passport is not accepted as proof in this case as it does not necessarily include a postal address. Driving licences and utility bills are accepted as proof of identity.

Participating archives

CARN tickets are issued and accepted at (among others):

• Birmingham City Archives
• Hampshire Record Office
• Lancashire County Records Office
• Worcestershire Record Office

The CARN scheme appears not to have a website.