South Ayrshire Council News

Councillor Margaret Toner is pictured holding the vouchers that can be purchased from the Local History Department with in Carnegie Library, Ayr

ScotlandsPeople is the official government source for genealogical data for Scotland and from the 11 September 2008 it will be easier than ever to access with the introduction of a voucher system.

Starter accounts and top up vouchers to library customers throughout Scotland, at a discounted rate, for ScotlandsPeople will be available from South Ayrshire Council's Scottish and Local History Department at Carnegie Library in Ayr.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Depute Leader of the Council and Portfolio Carrier for Community Services said: "More people than ever are interested in tracing their ancestors. ScotlandsPeople is making it easy to access a wide range of information, using modern technology, in a secure way. I would encourage people to contact staff at Carnegie Library in Ayr and find out more about how the system works."

The vouchers can be used at any Council library, but a good idea is to combine online research with the resources available in Carnegie Library. The vouchers will cost £6 for 60 credits, with top-up credits available for £4.80 for 30 credits.

Accessing on line using the vouchers has lots of advantages:

• Access to birth, marriage, and death records as well as census records, old parish registers and wills for the whole of Scotland.
• No need to use your credit card.
• No need to worry about Internet security.
• Voucher access to the site at a reduced rate.
• Let the library make your online research easier and safer.
• Take your family history one step further.

Anyone who would like a 'taster session' to see for themselves the wide range of facilities available should contact the Scottish and Local History Library, at Carnegie Library in Ayr. Simply telephone 01292 272231 or e-mail
local.history@south-ayrshire.gov.uk to book a date and time.

Planning is already well underway for the next South Ayrshire History and Family History Fair that will take place on 6 June 2009. There will be guest speakers at the Fair, a range of interesting stalls and books, so why not note the date now so that you do not miss it next year.