News from the Dorset Archives contained in their "For the Record" information sheet, Winter 2003 I don't know how many of you are on the Dorset Archives mailing list, but here are some snippets which may be of interest: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED If you live near the Record Office, volunteer transcribers are needed to transcribe from original parish registers for the transcripts which are available to all visitors and kept on the open shelves. Volunteers are also needed in other fields - no details given. Please contact Jacqui Halewood at the Record Office if you can offer your services. DORSET COAST DIGITAL ARCHIVE PROJECT This has been launched on http://www.dcda.org.uk More and more material is expected to go 'live' over the next few months. Tithe maps are the ROs first contribution to this project developed jointly with Bournemouth University. I haven't looked at the site myself - I hadn't realised it was up and running! COPYING FEES These have risen from December 1st....New prices Black and white Photcopies - 50p/A4; 70p/A3 Black and White Overhead Digital Copies - £2.50/A4 and £3.00/A3 Colour Overhead Digital Copies - £6.00 Certified Copies - £3.50 When my husband visited last week he was told that visitors would no longer be able to use their own cameras to photograph documents, maps etc. Don't forget that before the RO will supply you with any photocopies you will have to fill in and return a copyright declaration form, and, for those of you buying from abroad, sterling cheques only are acceptable. They do not take credit cards. CHANGES IN COPYRIGHT LAW New copyright legislation came into force in the UK on 31st October 2003 and the RO says they have had to change their copyright declaration forms as a result. You have to sign these before you can buy a photocopy or photograph. The two main changes relevant to researchers are the new clauses: Copies can only be provided for "research for a non commercial purpose or private study" and "copies cannot be supplied to any other person" This will affect professional researchers and their customers (no longer allowed to obtain copies of register entries to send to clients) and people working with other family members who might obtain one copy and then provide other relatives with a copy for their own records. Does it, I wonder, affect those of us who carry out reciprocal research for others of a non commercial variety? I have often obtained copies of Dorset records in the past and swopped for copies that a fellow researcher has obtained in another RO that I can't get to, or just sent them on to another researcher as a favour? Is that now against the law? The article does say that the new law is very complex and difficult to summarise. They suggest you contact Jacqui Halewood for more information. OTHER NEWS I have already posted about restricted opening times due to staff shortages and budget problems. Staff shortages have also meant that there has been little time for cataloguing new accessions. They direct researches to the A2A: http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk Finally they remind everyone that it is advisable to make an appointment before visiting the Record Office (especially now their opening hours are restricted) and remind everyone that they close at 1pm on Christmas Eve and re-open at 9am on January 6th. For more information about the Record Office, visit their website at http://www/dorsetcc.gov.uk/archives email: archives@dorsetcc.gov.uk If you have any questions about the information contained, please contact the Record Office not me. I am simply summarising the information sheet I received in the post this morning! I am also sending it to Brit-Gen Dorset list and the OPC list so you may see it again! Helen Helen Jones, Weymouth, Dorset helen@melcombe.freeserve.co.uk http://www.melcombe.freeserve.co.uk