SOG-UK-L Archives

Archiver > SOG-UK > 1999-04 > 0923417961


From: "Ian Clark" <>
Subject: RE: [SOG-UK-L] LDS site - what's all the fuss about???
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 17:59:21 +0100


Roy isn't a cynic, and obviously you need to go to a library if you need to
consult dusty old tomes and originals. But many working people can't easily
get to relevant libraries when they are open or they have fiche readers or
CDROMs free.

The Web is great for doing preliminary research in indices like the IGI, to
narrow down where you want to look in more detail. To be able to this in
the evening or early morning is a great boon for many people.

I know you can buy fiche, but most people are researching more than one
surname or county. So each time you identify a new spouse or line to
follow, you have to order more fiche (which can take some time) and with no
guarantee that you will find anything relevant.

Although I live 10 miles from my local FHC, it has pretty restricted opening
hours and poor fiche readers, as well as needing to wait several weeks for
any films/fiche not in stock. It also costs me far more in travel costs
than several hours of local BT "friends & family" phone calls. And although
the facilities at SoG and Myddleton Place are far superior, the demand on
them is intense when working people are free to use them. Once again the
cost equation favours the Web, as well as the comfort of a hot cup of coffee
on my desk, and all my notebooks of research information readily to hand --
impossible to lug up to London.

Like Roy I will wait until the system has settled down (I have got through
twice, but failed to complete any searches because the database server was
being maintained). Presumably if RootsWeb servers can cope with millions of
calls a week, then the far greater resources of LDS will get there in time.

Incidentally I can't wait for the LDS to issue the IGI on CDROM, as I will
happily buy it outright. I only hope their indexing programme is better
than the one on the VRI, as there are definitely some entries actually on
the CDROMs which are not returned even when the full name is specified. The
data can be found by accessing the underlying MS Access database. Does
anyone know why this happens?

Ian

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