Federation Of Family History Societies

LMA gives further news about improvements and digitisation project

 

At the beginning of October the London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library invited interested parties to attend either of two follow-up meetings to learn about progress with the plans outlined in March. Roger Lewry attended the second of these meetings and was shown an artist's impression and floor plans of the improvements that are to take place at the LMA. The public area is to be increased by about 20%. The reading room will be essentially the same size but it will be re-arranged and comfort cooling will be available in summer. The reference area will be the main beneficiary of the additional space. This will allow for a greater number of computer work stations which will be needed to view the digitised images that are to be made available. As more of the microfilms are replaced by digital images, so the number of microfilm readers will be reduced and more computers introduced.

It is recognised that there is currently too little space between the microfilm readers, and as the number of these is reduced (with the impact of digitisation) so the layout of work stations will be improved. Some will allow for two people to work together while others will be aimed at those who prefer to work alone in a quieter area.

Because the improvements involve among other things laying a new floor and installing new furniture it will be necessary for the LMA to close for a period. The last open day for 2007 will be 2 November. The new look LMA will open on 21 January 2008 but with a temporary reading room. The old reading room will still be undergoing its transformation and will not re-open until 1 April 2008. Enquiries by letter, telephone, fax and email will still be handled during the period of closure and can be expected to be answered within ten working days of receipt.

The introduction of more computers will allow the LMA to offer access to census records on the same basis as has been possible at the nearby Family Records Centre. It is hoped that this will be available when the LMA re-opens on 21 January 2008. There will NOT be access to the BMD fiche.

As reported previously, reader registration will be necessary as part of the improved security. This will give the opportunity to order in advance from home (or elsewhere) over the Internet items to be viewed in the reading room. It will still be possible to order items on arrival at the LMA. Registration will be possible at the LMA where a photograph will be taken of the reader and evidence of identification will have to be provided. Further details will be made known in due course. It will also be possible to begin registration over the Internet and complete it on arrival by showing evidence of identity and by being photographed.

A new online catalogue will replace the present need to consult three separate sources of information about what is available - the in-house catalogue, A2A (Access to Archives) and the LMA website. An agreement has been reached with an experienced Canadian company to develop the new online catalogue. It will be possible to search by keyword or date, and to browse through the catalogue as one would a paper version. It is hoped that searching will be possible by 21 January but online ordering is not expected until 1 April 2008.

The plans for digitisation were reported after the meeting in March. It is hoped that the first images will be available to view from spring/summer 2008. The production of an index will take longer but it is felt that there is no point in delaying the release of images pending the release of an index. Although a very high standard of indexing will be aimed for, it is recognised that errors will be inevitable and so users will be given the facility to flag up corrections which will be acted upon.

19 October 2007
Roger Lewry
Archives Liaison Officer