It should hold useful reference books , which refer you to other publications or direct to manuscript sources. Local studies sections in public libraries can be searched for local history, newspapers and collections of photographs and prints. Some image collections in museums, libraries and archives can now be searched online and there are other online image indexes . Listed building and monument descriptions for Scotland and Northern Ireland can be read online . The trail may then lead to a record office , where manuscripts are deposited.
Primary documents are often termed records.
The Historical Manuscripts Commission and the Irish Manuscripts Commission have published series of calendars of private papers. Other national societies specialize in particular types of record, for example the Catholic Record Society, while local record societies concentrate on those relevant to their county or city. Most of the above are listed in Mullins, Texts and Calendars , Stevenson, Scottish Texts and Calendars or the IMC catalogue . Other records useful for building history have been published independently . Given time, practice and frequent resort to handwriting guides and dictionaries , any intelligent person could eventually transcribe a medieval document.