In a message dated 20/04/2007 22:36:25 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Does anyone know if the electoral rolls are on the "open" shelves at Gateshead and Darlington libraries. If yes, would someone be willing to do a look up for me please? Also, in 1906 my gr.grandfather committed suicide in Gateshead - there was an inquest but as yet I have not been able to unearth the report, just wondering if it may have been reported in a newspaper at the time, are newspapers from this time held at the library? The Electoral Rolls are indeed on open shelves in Gateshead Library, but even if they weren't, that in itself would not necessarily prevent anyone using them! I don't know about Darlington. Far more important is to be absolutely certain of the address andn Polling District if it is a modern (c20th century) one that is involved. They are arranged by Ward, then by Polling District, then by Street, (by Street Number, NOT alphabetically). Gateshead Library has a good collection of local newspapers from all periods, as indeed, have most of our major Reference Libraries, each covering their own districts. Some County Record Offices also have newspaper collections. In theory, any newspaper not available locally should be in the British Library's Newspaper collection at Colindale, North London. However, there has been quite a lot of "filling in gaps" by exchanging microfilms with Colindale, and locally-held newspaper collections are all the better for it. Such Coroners' Papers as are available in Durham Record Office are listed, with the names of the deceased and sometimes the verdicts, in its on-line catalogue. Geoff Nicholson