Genealogy Chat

UPDATE Another reply from the library explaining!!!!!!!

I have just emailed my local library to ask about electoral registers for the first 40 years of the 20th century. Their reply was that they only had a couple from the late 1930's and these ' were only available to be looked at for 10 minutes and no photocopies could be made due to data protection' As anyone on these would have to have been born around 1915, most would be dead. Also, as we all know, much more recent ones are available on the Internet. Margaret

You must be unlucky with your library. My local, Hammersmith, pointed out all the right books I needed, found me a big desk all to myself and let me stay all day. I looked up electoral rolls from 20s 30s and after the war. Also the local cemetary records. Can you find a different library not too far away? Im sorry for your bad experience. Sylvia

Margaret I think whoever you spoke to has got their knickers in a twist - its CURRENT Electoral Rolls which you can 'only look at for ten minutes and not take any photocopies'. I bet if you spoke to someone else/went in, you would get a different answer. OC

Sylvia I need to go to the County Record Office in Stafford. Cant get there at the moment. Old Crone I did wonder that. They dont have what I want anyway. I'm trying to find out when someone died. I know he was still alive in 1913 as he was the informant on his wifes death cert. He was born 1849, I have searched death indexes until 1952. Probably one missed in the GRO indexes. I have found 2 of those. I cant ask the local registrar to check all those years. I thought if I checked electoral rolls I could narrow down the years, if he didnt move home that is. Margaret

Old Crone Just remembered, a few years ago I think it was when the 1901 census came out. The site crashed so I emailed the library to ask if they had it on microfiche. They said they didnt have them that old, just new ones!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the same person is still working there. LOL Margaret

I went to the West Susssex Records Office and they were most helpful. I ordered electoral registers from 1880-1940 and had all the time I needed to view them. Had I needed from 1941 onwards, there would have been no problem. Alan

I've had electoral rolls from 1950 onwards without any difficulty at my library. Think you just had bad luck with whom you spoke to. Snowdrops

That's drivel. I actually got an e-mail reply back from a library giving details of an electoral roll from 1924 which I'd requested, and they had a format which explained they were providing the information under the 'Freedom of Information Act'. nell

There's only a 30 year closure on electoral registers in the library so you should be able to view anything up to 1975 freely. Janice

I've just come in from a visit to Ealing Central Library & there was no problem looking at any electoral registers -they were all on open shelves & I helped myself for as long as I wanted. Guess you were really unlucky. What a shame. Jacquie

Thank you for all your replies. If my local library even had the registers I wanted I would complain, but they dont. I need to travel to Stafford which I cant at the moment. I'm sure Stafford know what they are doing. Margaret

Nothing whatsoever to do with Data Protection, they are just fobbing you off. The Data Protection Act concerns the use of data, believe it or not...! or computer records in other words.

Peter As I have said: They dont have what I want anyway. Margaret

I've just had another email from the library. I wrote and told them that I thought their policy was ridiculous. This was before I put this thread on here, by the way. This is their comment: The policy regarding access to electoral registers is available on the County Council website (www.staffordshire.gov.uk) via the Library Facilities link. Whilst I might agree that the policy seems a little heavy handed in the case of earlier registers, these are the rules we are required to abide by. Most of the restrictions on the access to electoral registers in libraries came about as a result of a member of the public taking a council in Yorkshire to court for allowing a third party to make a copy of his details from the register. You are probably aware that the 2003 electoral register, which is available online, is the edited version, where individual may decide to withold their names if they so wish. The full version is very closely guarded and is now only available locally via the local council. I have just emailed again telling them that they have it wrong and that registers are available at other libraries and county record offices on open shelves without restriction. I await further claptrap from them. Margaret

Keep us informed Margaret - you might like to tell them that Cirencester Libraries understands the legislation, as they provided me with information under the Freedom of Information Act. nell

Margaret - as I understand it, they are all available for inspection. However since the full and edited versions began in (I think) 2003, no one is allowed to photocopy the full register. Prior to 2003 you could and can. I know I get a copy of the full register in my capacity as a parish council clerk and there is always a very firm letter which accompanies it each year which points out that photocopies cannot be taken or the information shown to anyone, almost on pain of death!!!

Hi Margaret, i have viewed them at Stoke on Trent (Hanley ) They have even given me detailes over the phone. Gill

Margaret I was told exactly the same thing at my County Library (someone took them to court blah blah). But I was trying to view CURRENT registers, not ancient ones, which were, I might add, always available to anyone as soon as they were published! Stupid, isnt it? I think lots of people, including local authorities, dont understand the Data Protection Act, and their default position is No, you cant look! Olde Crone

The library have replied to me again, I bet they are fed up with me LOL They insist that they are correct in their interpretation of the data protection. I have told them of this thread but their position is that everyone else is wrong. Either that or they think I'm lying through my teeth. I'm just glad they dont have what I am looking for anyway. Most people on old registers would either be dead or not at that same address anyway. I wont bother emailing them again. Margaret