The next 10 years

[Lydart]

I love it that I can go to a record office, produce my readers card, and have a day in the warm (!) looking things up and browsing through lovely old records.  A day of pleasure ... and all FOR FREE !

Seriously, would it really be too much for someone to pay, say £2, or £5 for a days use of the records ?   I'm the proverbial poor pensioner, but I'd pay it ! 

When I think of the number of people there are each day coming in and out of the records office, the amount of money they aren't taking is quite considerable ... and in the current 'climate' would be a good source of revenue.   

[coombs]

With more and more stuff coming online especially the pilot site then we are becoming more and more able to search in the comfort of our own homes.

[Archivos]

With more and more stuff coming online especially the pilot site then we are becoming more and more able to search in the comfort of our own homes.

True, but I do wonder if it sometimes makes people think that if it's not on the internet then it doesn't exist.  With many archives and record offices unable to digitise collections, I think there is a wealth of information out there that people just aren't finding because it's not online.

I like the idea of record offices charging for use of the records, but there may be implications regarding charging for access to public records in the place they are held.  I'm not sure though.  Perhaps if rather than having a standard charge, they could have a suggested donation, like many museums?

[Nick29]

I love it that I can go to a record office, produce my readers card, and have a day in the warm (!) looking things up and browsing through lovely old records.  A day of pleasure ... and all FOR FREE !

Hmmm....  hardly, when you have to buy a train ticket to get there ! 

I kick myself that I spent the first 25 years of my life 20 minutes away from the centre of London by train, but wasn't interested in genealogy back then.  Now, it would cost me £62.50 for a return ticket to London 

[Guy Etchells]

A question prompted by Nick29's original reply. The last decade has seen the release of 1841-1911 census. A quick addition of census headcounts suggests that is about 200 million records.

Does anyone have any idea / guess /estimate how many records are contained within parish records, and what proportion has been indexed?

The 1841 census was released in 1912 along with the 1851 census, 70 and 60 years after they were taken.
I think what you are referring to was the on line access to the 1841-1911 census.

In the next few years the 1921 census and all historic civil registers could be released and also made available without the need to purchase a certificate.
Historic civil registers are the Births, Marriages and Deaths from 1837 to around 1910 (i.e. those about 100 years old).
This however will take a concerted effort and will not happen if the genealogical community simply sit back and wait for it to happen.

We need to write to Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament and lobby for it to happen.

It may also help to comment and rate the suggestions on the HMG Your Freedom site at
http://tinyurl.com/2vju6b9  for access to the 1921 census
and
http://tinyurl.com/33lptya for access to historic registers.
Cheers
Guy

[Lydart]

I love it that I can go to a record office, produce my readers card, and have a day in the warm (!) looking things up and browsing through lovely old records.  A day of pleasure ... and all FOR FREE !

Hmmm....  hardly, when you have to buy a train ticket to get there ! 

I kick myself that I spent the first 25 years of my life 20 minutes away from the centre of London by train, but wasn't interested in genealogy back then.  Now, it would cost me £62.50 for a return ticket to London 

But I was meaning my local record office, which is about 20 minutes by car away ... true, you have to own a car and be able to drive there !   But in principle, a small charge would be good I think.   What does it cost to go to the cinema ?   (£5 ?  £8 ?)   Or a concert ? (£20 ?)   Or a stately home ... or a week by the sea ??     

[coombs]

I didnt know 1841 and 1851 was released in 1912. I thought about 1942 and 1952.

[panda40]

I'd like one membership rate on the main on line websites. Its frustrating when you find something in the index to have it come up and tell you it will cost even more money to look at it. We have paid a membership to look at the records so they should be available to all
regards panda

[Redroger]

Why shoiuld you pay again Lydart, you have already paid, it's called council tax!