 an individual will probably cost about 50p. If you are having difficulty finding an individual then there may be the option of a more advanced search. The details of how this would work are still under consideration. Again we would expect each search to cost about 50p.
3. Viewing an image
If you wish to view an image of a page we expect it to cost about 80p. If you have the appropriate facilities at home you may wish to print the image. Alternatively we could provide a copy of the image and post it out. The charge would be in line with the current PRO Reprographics charges for orders by post.
4. Minimum advance purchase
The cost of administration makes it uneconomic to charge in very small units so there will a minimum payment in advance for charged searches and images. This will probably be about £5 and will buy you multiples of transcripts, advanced searches or images. For example, having paid the advance charge you would be able to view around ten transcripts. However, anything beyond the first £5 will be simple pay-as-you-go at the cost of each individual transaction.
Regular users will be able to pay a higher entry charge and then benefit from reduced search and copy charges. The entry charge would be valid for a longer period.
We are still in the early stages of determining the charging levels and the different types of searches available so nothing is set in stone at this point.
Access to microfiche
We will provide access to a set of microfiche of the returns along with the standard finding aids. The location and details for this are not yet finalised but it is likely to be at the PRO site at Kew and on a similar basis to other microform records. In addition we will, as usual, be making microfiche available for sale to local record offices and local studies libraries.
Market Research and Consultation
Market research will continue throughout the contract period. We will continue to hold briefing sessions for users and keep you up to date with information on our web site, in the FRC newsletter and on the notice board at the FRC.
In the year 2000 we are planning to speak to groups at venues up and down the country (at County Record Offices, libraries and Family History Fairs). We will continue to brief the FRC User Group which meets every 4 months. In addition we intend to set up an advisory panel consisting of representatives from those who use the census returns for a variety of research purposes (family history, one-name studies, local and social history).
Regular information will be published in the FRC newsletter and on the PRO web site (http://www.pro.gov.uk/). If you would like further information please contact David Annal at the FRC (tel:0181 392 5303) or email: email@example.com
PRO using inmates to index 1901 UK census!!!
The actual press release from DERA is available from the company's website at:
DERA Technology revamps 1901 Census Returns
The UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) is making available on-line the Census details of around 32 million individuals living in England and Wales in 1901. Researchers on genealogy, who are the third biggest users of the Internet, will be delighted with this news.
Census returns are not released for 100 years for reasons of personal confidentiality - the 1901 Census is the next to be released in January 2002. The Keeper of Public Records today announced the appointment of DERA as the prime contractor for the digitisation of the 1901 Census returns.
Currently recorded on microfilm and comprising about 1.5 million pages, the details on the returns will be turned into an index of individuals with links to digital images of the original enumeration register page. This will be the first time the original images and associated index have been made available in electronic format to a worldwide audience.
From January 2002, the new DERA digitised system will be accessible on the Internet. Genealogy researchers will also be able to access the service by calling into the Family Records Centre of the Public Records Office.
DERA in partnership with Enterprise Supp