Suggestions

I agree, especially since it can be very hard to find the "specific lookup" threads with all the traffic on the boards.

This was the sort of thing that "Records Office" was initially meant for, but people just posted there and on Tips willy nilly for things that belonged on Trying to Find.

Wendy has a post on Ancestors volunteering to do lookups in Nottinghamshire parish records. This could help me hugely with a family, but if I hadn't been looking at Ancestors when she happened to post it, I might never have seen it.

The duplication problem could be addressed by a stern and unmissable direction from site management NOT to post in lookup threads and in a dedicated thread of one's own. (Oh, all right, I jest.)

OOOhhh - Sylvia, I see what you mean.

I didn't actually mean for the board to be called the 'Specialist look-up board". - This would indeed create just the disaster you are suggesting (much like the one created recently by the help clinic).

What I actually envisaged was the type of thread described by Gwyn on the post above and described there as threads "offering lookups of a specific nature or in a particular area "

Thank you Gwyn, that is exactly the type of thread I meant and these are extremely useful.

I will amend my title and my previous posts on here to the word 'Specific' rather than 'Specialist' - a small change but a very important one, to avoid any further confusion.

Thanks for the comments.

Dea x

In the past I have offered to check records at Canterbury Cathedral Archives. Usually I tack this offer onto a relevant thread and ask for people to PM me with what they need. It is then easy to print off for taking there and means I don't have to keep checking that thread incase someone has decided to take up the offer.

I think a board offering lookups of a specific nature or in a particular area is a good idea and response could be by PM rather than on the boards, which might overcome Sylvia's valid fear of people duplicating.

Gwyn

That could be a good idea, Dea

But the following thoughts have crossed my mind as Ir ead this thread:-


The problem is that then we might have even more poeple asking for duplicate help ....... on the "specialist thread board" and on the Finding Ancestors board


Is there a possibility / probabilty that people wanting help will tend to think that the "specialist threads" are being offered by a superior level of helpers?




sylvia

It's a thought Toots but I think they would be best on their own as I think there are quite a few ?

Dea x

Depending on how many specialist threads there are, could they be stickied to the top of the board

I dont think anyone is doing ER look ups at the moment (well not advertising they are) but I can remember people asking and being told look for so and so's thread and it could well be 10 pages plus away not good for a newbie who has no idea where to look

jax

Thank you Ja....x

These 'specific look-up threads' are very important but I think they should have a place of their own?

Dea x

I agree dea

I think any general look up offers should be removed now there is only one board

jax

Firstly - I like the changes and am only offering this idea as a suggestion for further improvement!

I have noticed that now the boards are combined into the 'Find Ancestors' Board, there are several important posts which are being lost ??

The board is now very 'busy' with people asking for help tracing their ancestors and a lot of people offering help i.e. - Gloucester Archive look-ups, 'Electoral roll look-ups', Derbyshire Parish records look-ups etc.....

I think there is a need to split these and allow a seperate board for people offering those 'specific' look-ups ??

What does anyone else think?

Dea x