Forwarded on behalf of Ailsa Barnes <ailsa@barnes.net> -------- Original Message -------- Hello Everyone, I am setting up a new Lancashire Look Up Exchange (the last one being abandoned some years ago) and would appreciate comments, suggestions and - most importantly - VOLUNTEERS! For those of you not familiar with the Look Up Exchange, it works like this... Those of us with access to Lancashire records (census returns, trade directories, parish records etc) and who are willing to help others, volunteer to do look ups within a specified arena. For example, you might be happy to look for someone in a trade directory, but not in the census returns. The new web page will show a list of volunteers together with the details of what records they are prepared to search. Those without access or who need help for some other reason, can contact the appropriate person and ask for a look up. There is no cost involved, however if a volunteer incurs a cost (i.e.. obtaining a copy of a parish record entry) then the person requesting the information would be expected to reimburse them. The Look Up Exchange has the potential to help everyone. Very few of us have access to all of the records, and all of us have needed some help with look ups at one time or another. If you are that lucky person who has everything at your disposal, then you would get a warm glow inside knowing that you have helped others! There are rules governing what a volunteer will undertake and what they can refuse to stop those kind enough to help with the project being inundated with vague requests, which would take too much time to look up. For a good example of a Look Up Exchange website, have a look at the one for Gloucestershire http://aztecrose.tripod.com/gloucestershire/index.html The Lancashire one will be very similar to this. So why use a look up exchange website when we have our lists, I hear you ask? The idea of the look up exchange is that it casts its net wider than the lists are able to do. The scope of the Look Up Exchange will cover about 25 Rootsweb lists and is also open to anyone with internet access not just list members. The look up exchange is a complement to, not a distraction from, our friendly, helpful lists. Any comments or questions would be very welcome, but OFF LIST please. The Look Up Exchange covers 25 mailing lists and I don't subscribe to them all! If you would like to volunteer your services, please drop me a line - again off list - and let me know what resources you would be prepared to use for look ups. (mailto://ailsa@barnes.net) Thanks to Lynne Klein, Paul Dixon, Colin Pratt and Phil Stringer for their help and support in setting up this project. Ailsa