Friday 10 February 2012

The UK's Public Libraries


I am ashamed to say that I was, until this morning, unaware of the existence of the 'Public Libraries News' blog. Subtitled 'What's Happening to Your Library?', it provides regular updates on the state of play at grassroots level across the UK - especially England, where threats to services seem to be especially serious. The blog is updated almost daily, and is well worth keeping tabs on.

Yesterday I kind of left the Welsh out of things, but today several items have surfaced from this corner of the British Isles. Many sources have reported the news of the launch of a special project to digitise primary Welsh sources relating to WWI. This truly major initiative aims to reveal the 'hidden history' of how the conflict affected all aspects of Welsh life. Best place to go for the low-down is here.

Two other stories from Wales can be found on the 'Heritage of Wales' news blog - namely, a little more on a story I think I mentioned a few days ago regarding Wales' oldest building; then there's a great item about the Ceredigion Metal Mine (including a brilliant 8-minute animation).

Following on from yesterday's news from the English Midlands, a helpful article has popped up on the Ancestry website entitled 'Bastardy Orders and Certificates in Warwickshire Quarter Session Records'.

Several new London records have appeared on the 'British History Online' website - London Sheriffs' Court Roll of 1320; St.Mary Colechurch Vestry Minutes 1613-72; and City of London Tithe Assessments 1638-72.

Looking a little further afield, I tripped over FamilySearch's latest 'mass release' of records, here (inc. material for Derbyshire).

The BBC' HistoryExtra website has the following to entertain you:


And there's more TV stuff here.

The latest issue of Your Family Tree is now available; as is the March issue of HistoryToday Magazine. The latter have also placed their latest history crossword online.

The WDYTYA? Magazine website is carrying a Holocaust survivors item.

From Twitter:

Now available in the UK
The NEW Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner from MyHistory
(click below)
My History


  Three sons lost to scarlet fever within five days...  

At 49 Castlegte, Jedburgh, on the 4th inst. Walter Hilson aged 6 years; on the 6th inst. James aged 3 years; and on the 8th inst. John William aged 9 years - all of scarlet fever - children of James R. Hilson and Helen K. Guthrie".
 [The Hawick Express, 11 March 1881]

This first appeared on Susan Donaldson's Family History blog in Oct 2011

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