Hello Peter The Ballarat Genealogical Society houses its collection including "fiche" and readers in the "Australiana Room" at the main Ballarat Library which means our resources are available to the general public during library hours, with a facility to accept donations to the Society for use of these resources. Members regularly donate their time to act as research assistants for visitors to the collection in the Australiana room. This relationship works very well indeed as it provides much more access for the general public and advertises the existence of our Society to a wider audience. See the Ballarat Library website at... http://www.chrlc.vic.gov.au/ Regards Daryl Povey http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/ At 09:16 AM 11/03/2007, Peter Robinson wrote: >Apologies for cross posting but need to reach as wide an audience as >possible. :-) > >The East Gippsland Family History Group has recently learned that a number >of similar groups/clubs/whatever have formed various types of alliance with >local libraries. Several libraries I have contacted have advised that the >local group has: > 1.. Disbanded and donated their resource materials to the library > 2.. Been granted space in the existing library building and allow the >public to access a select range of their resources. > 3.. Added most of their collection to the local library but have it held >in a controlled access area. > >We would be interested in hearing from anybody with knowledge of, or >involvement in, such arrangements or variations thereof and their opinions >on the success or otherwise. > >Regards >Peter, the older of the tworobbos

Hi Folks Current project on identifying the original 39 WW1 Soldier Settlers on the "Struan Estate", later known as Paschendale betweem Merino and Coleraine. Some only remained for a short time, making identification difficult. Current summary at... http://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/merino/paschendale.htm Any assistance, additional information happily received. Regards Daryl Povey