For many years we have worked with The Genealogical Society of Utah [GSU] who have microfilmed and latterly digitised records in our care that includes names. This relationship has allowed our users access to surrogate copies of archival sources in our public searchrooms.
More recently we have been working with GSU on a project to allow users access to digital copies of content via a system called Reading Room which is available in our public searchrooms at Berwick and Woodhorn. Reading Room allows users to access digital copies of records – principally electoral registers, parish records and Quarter Sessions records at present – by viewing them on public PCs as well as enabling users to print high quality copies. Previously this content was available via microfilm copies many of which were old and worn and any copies generated were generally of poor quality. GSU volunteers have indexed many of the parish registers and in the forthcoming months we plan to add the indexes to Reading Room.
We are currently exploring how we might add further content to the system. In total there are more than 2500 volumes available to view on Reading Room with further content to add. A full list of content is available in our searchrooms in Woodhorn and Berwick. The attached spreadsheet provides a list of ecclesiastical content – records of Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic church records that are available to view in Reading Room.