Reading Rooms

We recommend that you first acquaint yourself with the Archival Information System AIS to search for records. You can find there reference codes which consist of the name of the abbreviation and the collection (fonds), inventory and item numbers (e.g. EAA.1.2.3). All our records have already been described there. You can search by a person's name, a place name etc., you can also use * instead of some letters which may vary. Then you will see titles of the records which contain these keywords and when you click on a title, you can see which fonds does this document belong to (i.e. by which institution it was once created) and where is it being preserved now. You can also see whether it has already been digitised — if there is a black link "View image", this is a link to the image in the Saaga portal. You can also make a reading room loan order or a copy order directly via the link "Order" which can be seen in the AIS entries (e.g. see EAA.854.1.34). The records can be ordered to the respective reading rooms in Tartu, Tallinn, Valga or Rakvere. Please notice the location of the reading room!

Placing an order via VAU. First, please click on the tab "Orders" —> type in the first reference code —> choose "Order type": Loan —> choose the "Purpose" —> and then click on the button "Add", after that you can continue entering your other orders and lastly you should confirm them (you can do it all at once if you tick the small box in front of the "No.") — then the orders will reach the reading room staff. You can see the state of your orders there as well ("Orders" —> subtab "Sent"). 

Please read more about ordering copies here.

• Phone: +372 738 7521
  
• E-mail: tartu@ra.ee

Opening hours:

• Monday–Friday 9–19 
  
• On days before public holidays 9–13
• From 25 June until 30 August, Monday–Friday 9–15
  

From 25 December until 1 January 2024 our reading room is CLOSED!

Reading room and copy orders should be placed through VAU (—> the tab "Orders", please see more). It is allowed to take pictures of records in the reading room free of charge and there is also a scanner. The wireless internet is available as well.

Address: Madara 24, 15019 Tallinn

• Phone: +372 693 8668
  
• E-mail: tallinn@ra.ee

Opening hours:

• Monday–Friday 9–19 
  
• Saturday 10–15
• Closed every last Friday of a month
• On days before public holidays 9–13
  
• From 25 June until 30 August, Monday–Friday 9–15
  

Address: Näituse 23, 44314 Rakvere

• Phone: +372 323 2160
• E-mail: rakvere@ra.ee
  

Opening hours:

• Monday–Friday 9–16
• On days before public holidays 9–12

Address: Vabaduse 6, 68204 Valga

• Phone: +372 766 8870
• E-mail: valga@ra.ee

Opening hours:

• Monday–Friday 9–12 and 14–16
• On days before public holidays 9–12

Address: Ristiku 84, 10318 Tallinn

• Phone: +372 693 8610
• E-mail: filmiarhiiv@ra.ee

Opening hours:

• Monday–Thursday 9–17
  
• Fridays 9–16