If you plan to make a special trip to Fife to research your family history, it makes good sense to be as prepared as possible prior to your visit. This will save you valuable time once you are here and help to ensure that you find the information you are looking for.

If you have any certificates such as birth, marriage and death certificates, it's a good idea to bring photocopies with you. That way you have the correct information to hand and you can add your own notes without damaging the original documents.

If you haven't been able to find any documentation, bring along some background information about your family, including names, dates, places etc. It is very useful to have this information written out as a basic outline family tree, with the dates filled in where possible.

It is also worthwhile preparing a list of questions you want answered and if possible try to make appointments in advance. That way you can be sure that there will be staff on hand to provide you with assistance if required.

When looking at old manuscripts and original documentation, the text can sometimes be quite difficult to read. If you have space in your luggage, it's often helpful to bring a magnifying glass with you.