This coming week Fri 26 Feb to Sun 28 Feb sees the Who Do You Think You Are Live show at Olympia. A must for anyone who can get to it. I will be there on stand 86 all weekend. I'm also next door to Pharos Teaching & Tutoring, who I run online courses for. I'm also presenting on the Friday on Norfolk Ancestors.
As well as founder Helen Osborn, who will be on the stand all weekend, other Pharos tutors to look out for that weekend if you want to pick the brains of some of the best in the business are Chris Paton, Scottish epert, Guy Grannum who teaches courses on Caribbean history and using The National Archives Catalogue, Simon Fowler, who is also editor of Ancestors Magazine as well as tutor and expert in military history and Hannah Baker who runs a course aimed at those who want to introduce children to genealogy.
Saturday 20 February 2010
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Record Offices & their rules
I'm very supportive of record office rules about leaving bags in lockers, only using pencils etc. After all they are the guardians of our documentary heritage. When I worked in Norfolk Record Office I used to wish I had a pound for every time some idiot said "are you going to strip search me" because they didn't get why they should comply.
But, I've been on my travels again the last two weeks, so have been to several different record offices again, and it never ceases to amaze me how differently they each apply certain rules. One is photography. They all charge different rates and some don't charge at all (Lincoln for example). Most say no flash can be used. But the reasons given why are often different, with many staff not seeming to know why they don't allow it. Others won't allow you to use a tripod, usually because of space, which I get, but again the rationale varies enormously from place to place. Others have a special area where you have to photograph everything and show the staff what you are doing. Essex is one of these but their photographic table isn't big enough to put maps on!
Some will let you photograph the screen of a film or fiche reader. Others don't but don't seem to notice when people do. I've never got the point of doing this anyway as I've tried it and the quality is very poor.
Some don't allow photography at all, or only of certain items, whilst others insist photographs can only be taken by their staff for a hefty fee.
I think this is just one area where perhaps different record offices could share notes at annual meetings and perhaps come up with a more standardised policy that is based on common sense.
I think I'll leave my thoughts on booking policies for another time in case my blood pressure hits the roof.
But, I've been on my travels again the last two weeks, so have been to several different record offices again, and it never ceases to amaze me how differently they each apply certain rules. One is photography. They all charge different rates and some don't charge at all (Lincoln for example). Most say no flash can be used. But the reasons given why are often different, with many staff not seeming to know why they don't allow it. Others won't allow you to use a tripod, usually because of space, which I get, but again the rationale varies enormously from place to place. Others have a special area where you have to photograph everything and show the staff what you are doing. Essex is one of these but their photographic table isn't big enough to put maps on!
Some will let you photograph the screen of a film or fiche reader. Others don't but don't seem to notice when people do. I've never got the point of doing this anyway as I've tried it and the quality is very poor.
Some don't allow photography at all, or only of certain items, whilst others insist photographs can only be taken by their staff for a hefty fee.
I think this is just one area where perhaps different record offices could share notes at annual meetings and perhaps come up with a more standardised policy that is based on common sense.
I think I'll leave my thoughts on booking policies for another time in case my blood pressure hits the roof.
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