A NEW one-stop shop for Dorset history buffs has opened its doors for the first time.

The new Dorset History Centre brings together the Dorset Archives Service and the Dorset Local Studies Collection on one site - the former Dorset Record Office in Dorchester.

For the first time visitors can study the original archives of their communities, such as parish registers, census and school records, maps with local news-papers, books and pamphlets together in one building.

For family historians, copies of the index to the records of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales are now in the same place as copies of the International Genealogical Index for Great Britain. Computer terminals are also available to the public for the first time - allowing visitors to use the enormous wealth of information on family and local history available on the Internet.

Advance bookings are no longer required as the centre hopes to have enough spaces to meet demand. There are more than six miles of unique records of the people, organisations and communities of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole from 965 to the present day.

The Local Studies Collection holds 15,000 books, newspapers and other material about Dorset, its history, people and environment.

The centre has also joined the County Archives Research Network (CARN), coming together with 50 other record offices in a single registration scheme.

Proof of identity will still be needed to register because of the unique nature of the collections. But once someone has a CARN card they will be able to visit any of the 50 offices in the scheme simply by showing the card.

County Archivist, Hugh Jaques, said: "This opening marks only a starting point and we shall be working to improve our services around the united archive and local studies collections."

A series of short induction tours for visitors new and old will be arranged over the coming weeks. For further information call the Dorset History Centre on 01305 250550 or e-mail: archives@dorsetcc.gov.uk