Win a prize and gain wealth of local historical knowledge!
A quiz has been launched to celebrate the launch of the Midlands Historical Data digital library only accessible online at Warwickshire County Council libraries and the County Record Office.
The quiz, which asks questions that can be answered through the Midlands Historical Data website, is to encourage people to use the new resources.
Supported by the National Year of Reading with Warwickshire Library and Information Service and Heritage Service, the quiz is open to any member of the public. The closing date is 30th November 2008.
The prize is a £25 book token and the winner will be drawn from correct entries, and will be notified by email of their winning entry. Please note that only one entry per email address is allowed, and that the last entry that you submit will be the one which the judges will consider.
Warwickshire County Council’s Library and Information Service and Warwickshire County Record Office have been working in partnership with Midlands Historical Data, to launch the new service.
All those interested in the history of Warwickshire and its people will be able to get online access at county libraries and the record office to the Midlands Historical Data website (http://www.midlandshistoricaldata.org), which provides a wide selection of sources for the history of the Midlands.
Paul McDermott, Resources and Content Manager for Warwickshire County Council said: "This new resource provides a wealth of local information for anyone with an interest Warwickshire’s past. The quiz is a fun way to start using the resource and you just might win a prize at the same time!”
The quiz introduces two ways of searching this library “index” to participants. For the first two questions, people are directed towards a text search of the local history books and directories.
The text could be a name, as it is for the first question, since the books and in particular the directories list names, address and in some cases occupations of individuals. Equally the text could be a place, an organisation (as it is for the second question) or an event.
The last question directs people to a search of the electoral roll. The electoral roll contains much more structured information on individuals than books or directories.
This means that a search can be devised by name and/or by street, which can be very useful for family historians or anyone researching a house history. There is even the facility to find two people living in the same street, which is useful for family historians researching a common surname.