Opening Soon: The 2026 Survey of Onsite Visitors to Archives

The ARA National Surveys Group will launch this year’s ‘Survey of Onsite Visitors to Archives’ in Autumn 2026, working in partnership with The National Archives for the first time! The survey will invite people who visit archives to share feedback on various aspects of their experience including reasons for visiting, travel, staff, facilities and any barriers faced.

Thanks to our new partnership, and a new digital-first approach, there will be no charge for your service to take part! Getting involved has never been easier. When the survey opens, we’ll share printable posters and flyers containing QR codes, that you can make available at your sites. These will be available in both English and Welsh. Visitors can then use their mobile devices to scan this code and complete the 5-minute survey online themselves.

Sharing the survey will allow you to:

• Collect vital feedback and ensure your services meets the needs of researchers, family historians, students, and local communities.

• Improve services including access to collections, online resources and customer support.

• Provide evidence of the value and impact of your archive, strengthening the case for further funding and support.

• Identify essential areas for future investment and planning.

• Benchmark your results against other archive services, helping you to identify best practice and opportunities for sector-wide development.

• Give a voice to your visitors and allow their feedback to shape the future direction of your service.

Keep a look out for further updates ahead of the survey opening this Autumn