Changes

*Previous FIBIS chairman, Peter Bailey, has created an informative slide show [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGZQlMGocPQ ''Advice For Your First Visit to the APAC Reading Rooms'']

:FIBIS, in association with the British Library, have published the Third Edition of this invaluable guide to the India Office Records (held at the British Library). This is the bible for all who are researching ancestors in British India and South Asia. Available from the [http://shop.fibis.org/?wpsc-product=bkf-0001-baxters-guide-biographical-sources-in-the-india-office-records-by-ian-a-baxter-fibis-research-guide-no-1 FIBIS Shop]

:Planning your first visit to the British Library? This very practical booklet contains two articles which will reduce stress and possible frustration when beginning research using the India Office Records at the British Library in London. Lawrie Butler was the former FIBIS Research Officer and his helpfully illustrated article "Hints on research in the India Office Records at the British Library Asian and African Studies reading room" carefully sets out what can be accomplished before visiting the library, how to gain admission to the library, and what to do once you enter the reading room in order to obtain maximum results. Elaine MacGregor's article "First visits to the OIOC by a 'newbie'" is a useful case study recounting her experience of using the reading room. Both articles were previously published in the [[FIBIS Journal]]. Available from the [httphttps://shopwww.fibis.org/?wpscstore/fibis-books-and-product=publications/bff-0002-getting-started-with-the-india-office-records / FIBIS Shop]

The British Library’s [httphttps://wwwelectronicresources.bl.uk/eresourcessfxlcl41/dbstptitlesaz/eresourcesa.html londb Find Electronic resources & journals in our reading roomsResources] indicates that the "''Times of India''—1838-2001", Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), Eighteenth Century Journals, 19th Century Periodicals , 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection ,the British Newspaper Archive and the Times Digital Archive are some of the databases which may be viewed online in the Library Reading Rooms. Refer [[Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories]] for more details of these databases.

*Read about location, opening times, and many aspects covered in Reader FAQ’s in this [http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/inrrooms/stp/stpancrasrr.html link]. Note that currently *You may use compact cameras, tablets and mobile phones to photograph '''cameras of any kind are not permittedsome''' and copies categories of Library collections must only be made using Library copying facilities. From March 2015 cameras will be permitted in to be used where self copying is allowed, material but not where preservation or other restrictions apply, see [https://www.bl.uk/help/can-i-take-photographs-of-british-library-material-myself Can I take photographs of British Library material myself?]. There are no camera stands.*There is a document limit for the day. Check British Library documentation for current limits, see [https://www.bl.uk/help/how-to-order-items How to order items].

Every month the [[APAC]] team offer a free 75 minute introduction to their records. This is aimed at the family historian. For further details, including upcoming dates, see the British Library website at [httphttps://www.bl.uk/reshelphelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/familyresearch.html Help for Researchersfree-discovery-and-1-2-1-sessions Free discovery and 1-2-1 sessions].

==Obtaining Copies copies of Recordsrecords== '''Certified ''' copies of ecclesiastical records, with the seal of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, acceptable for official purposes, can be ordered from the British Library -current cost (20122021, January) is £18 each, with an additional Search fee, if applicable. These contain details from the ecclesiastical registers held in the British Library which are "contemporary copies of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials sent to London for the information of the East India Company and the India Office"<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/ecclesiastical/eccrecords.html British Library Ecclesiastical Records]</ref>. The certified copies are transcriptions with data extracted from the ecclesiastical records. Because of the possibility of error with any transcription, for family history purposes copies of the microfilmed register pages are preferable. These can be obtained cheaply from the microfilm copiers in the reading room. Note that sometimes the name of the church may be on a different page to the record you require. The records for a church may extend over several pages and the name of the church usually appears either at the beginning, or possibly at the end of these records, included in the words of certification by the chaplain/minister/priest for that church. [http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/inrrooms/stp/copy/stpcopyprices/rrcopyprices.html Reading Room Copy Service prices] '''A great many of these images are now also available on the pay site [[Findmypast|findmypast]]''' The following links are from the British Library’s "Help for Researchers" regarding the ordering of records [http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/atyourdesk/servdeliv.html Online or by post] *[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/atyourdesk/indoffsearchcopy/indiaofficecopy.html Certified copies of India Office Baptisms Marriage and Burials]- but note above paragraph that the cheaper register copies may be sufficient for family history purposes. *Images **[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/atyourdesk/imaging/products/imagingproducts.html Copy options available: paper, digital etc]. **[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/atyourdesk/imaging/prices/remote.html Imaging Services prices]**[https://forms.bl.uk/imaging/index.aspx Imaging Services order form]

:Because of the possibility of error with any transcription, for family history purposes copies of the microfilmed register pages are preferable. Copies can be obtained at no cost by using the microfilm digital copying machines in the reading room which scan to email or memory stick. Hard copies can be obtained cheaply from the microfilm copiers - also in the reading room. Note: Any original record which cannot that sometimes the name of the church may be photocopied due on a different page to age etcthe record you require. The records for a church may extend over several pages and the name of the church usually appears either at the beginning, and/or if you have found a reference possibly at the end of these records, included in the words of certification by the chaplain/minister/priest for that church. [httphttps://searcharchiveswww.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/actionhelp/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1336721805856&vid=IAMS_VU2&fromLogin=true -the-india-office-records-for-baptisms-marriages-and-burials Search our Catalogue Archives the India Office records for Baptisms Marriages and ManuscriptsBurials]. British Library link. '''A great many of these images are now also available on the pay site [[Findmypast]]''', which would be the most common option used by those who cannot personally visit the British Library. However for ecclesiastical records, where images are not available on Findmypast due to privacy considerations, unless you will probably need have a '''full record reference''' from elsewhere, including page (or folio) number, it is not possible to obtain order a copy as described '''non-certified image''' in "Images"terms of [https://www. bl.uk/digitisation-services/services/ordering-images Ordering images] ([httphttps://www.newbl.fibis.orguk/digitisation-services/research FIBIS Researchpricing Pricing] is able to provide ) as the Findmypast transcript only provides a transcription partial record reference as it does not include the page (folio) number. If ordering an image online, include '''IOR''' as part of these the catalogue description. (Check what is available in the indexed [[FamilySearch]] records, but however generally page (or folio) number is unable '''not''' included.):'''Note''' above paragraph that the cheaper register copies will be preferable for family history purposes.:'''Note''' some documents cannot be photographed digitally - eg some european manuscripts - and you would need to provide a copy use the Library's imaging services to obtain copies. : '''Note''' some India Office records from the British Library, including most of the actual ecclesiastical records, are available for free on [[FamilySearch]] digitised microfilms - refer [[FamilySearch]] for links to the FamilySearch Library catalogue and [[FamilySearch Centres]] for information about viewing digitised microfilms at these Centres, which need to are generally also available at FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries. However, for some researchers, [[FamilySearch Centres]] and/or Affiliate Libraries may not be obtained directly from geographically convenient, or the British Libraryopen hours may be restricted. Most ecclesiastical records are also available as indexed records on FamilySearch.

The British Library can be contacted via the means below. The Library will provide a limited research service and can supply copies of records and documents, particularly, if you have the reference of an item you would like and cannot visit - charges apply. For baptisms, marriages and burials, consider whether you need a certified copy, refer above, as for genealogical purposes, a photocopy of the record may be preferable. [[APAC]] also hold a list of professional researchers familiar with the collections. Please, however, note that, as mentioned above, FIBIS can provide research assistance and copies of documents for FIBIS members unable to visit the Library. Some As stated above, some India Office records from the British Library, including all the ecclesiastical records, are available on [[LDS]] microfilms - refer [[IGI]] for links to the LDS Library catalogue and free at [[Family History FamilySearch Centres]] for information about ordering microfilms, and generally also at FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries.

|E-mail: apac-enquiries@bl.uk. Note however that you will automatically receive an online form to complete, so it is more efficient to compete this initially, as quoted in the link "Asian Resources for the study of South Asia past and African Studies present" below: Contact the [httphttps://www.questionpoint.org/crs/servlet/org.oclc.admin.BuildForm?&institution=13430&type=1&language=1 Ask the Asian & African Studies Reference Team].

Some books from the British Library's collection have been digitised. After you have found a catalogue reference through searching To locate these books search the British Library's main catalogue, refer below, and select Access options: Online (located on the left hand side of the webpage), For resulting book titles, click on "I want this". For books which have been digitised, one or all more of the following sources will be available, and may then be selected*British Library's pdf download, said to be "good for reading large amounts of text". Now mainly or totally withdrawn.*British Library's itemVIEWER, said to be "good for images". Note 1. it is possible to rotate pages, if required. Note 2. it is not possible to navigate from page to page using the 'Full Screen' viewing option.This is only possible from the default page, which is a disadvantage when reading text. Check whether there is an alternative format available elsewhere e.g. Archive.org. Now mainly withdrawn, but some files remain in this format. A difficult format to read online.*British Library's Digital item, with a different format to itemViewer. For a larger book image, close the 'Contents' and 'More information' sections. More recent digital files appear to be in this third format, but currently there still appear to be earlier digitised files using the previous formats. An example is :[http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_0000000357DE ''Jottings and Recollections of a Bengal “Qui hye!”''] by Louis Emanuel [1886]:You can download the entire book file, but depending on your internet connection this could be somewhat slow, but it is now possible (after a programming bug has been fixed). To read the book online there is a "Full screen" option, located at the bottom right hand corner of the webpage.

**These books may also be located through Google Books's usual search. It is not possible however, to specifically locate books from the British Library through the Google Books search. This may be done through the British Library's main catalogue search, by typing googlebooks (Note: must be one word) in addition to your search keywords. From the results displayed, click on "I want this" and the Google Books link will be shown.Currently (November 2014) it does not seem possible to search the British Library's main catalogue to determine which books are available as pdf downloads, or through itemVIEWER.

There are also digitised manuscripts available which may be located through Digitised Manuscripts Search, refer below. Some British Library India Office Records (books and files) are also available online through other sources such as the Qatar Digital Library. == External Links links ==*[http://www.bl.uk/ British Library] including [http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1327320208246&vid=BLVU1&fromLogin=true Search the Main Catalogue], and [http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1336721805856&vid=IAMS_VU2&fromLogin=true Search our Catalogue Archives and Manuscripts], the latter link including Visual Arts items and catalogue details for photographs. To search for online photographs, select the link for Search the Main Catalogue, then select "Our website", then enter your search details.*[http://www.bl.uk/cataloguesonlinegallery/onlineex/photographsapac/ index.html Online Gallery Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections]. Searchable prints, drawings Catalogue photographs and maps which may be viewed online. Part of Photographsthe [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/index.html Online Gallery]. The latter search is for catalogue detailsSearch defaults to the "Our website" section of Search the Main Catalogue, not refer above.*Some British Library online printsimages are only available as images to buy at [https://imagesonline.bl.uk British Library Images Online]. Some free downloads are also available on this website.*[https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/ Digitised Manuscripts Search]*[httphttps://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/digitised-printed-books Collection guides: Digitised printed books (18th-19th century)] British Library:[https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/uk-web-archive Collection guides: UK Web Archive] British Library*[https://www.bl.uk/reshelpsubjects/south-asia Resources for the study of South Asia past and present] British library website, including contact the [https://bldeptwww.questionpoint.org/apaccrs/apacollservlet/apacorg.oclc.admin.html BuildForm?&institution=13430&type=1&language=1 Asian and & African StudiesReference Team].**[https://web.archive.org/web/20160324060331/http://www.bl.uk:80/onlinegalleryreshelp/onlineexfindhelpregion/apacasia/index.html Online Gallery Help for researchers Home>Find help by region>Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections]. Searchable prints, drawings and photographs which may be viewed onlinenow an archived webpage.*A pdf file of "A guide to materials relating to [https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/india-office-records-family-history India at the British Library Western Manuscripts Collections" is accessible through this Office Records and Private Papers: family history] British Library website**[https://web.archive.org/web/20160405010228/http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/familyresearchoccupations/occupations.html link Help for researchers>India Office Records: Family History>Occupations], on now an archived webpage.**[https://web.archive.org/web/20160621091412/http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/peopleandplaces.pdf "A guide to materials relating to India at the right hand side of the pageBritish Library Western Manuscripts Collections"] by Dorota Walker, 2011. British Library webpage, now archived. A past FIBIS Blog advised:

:*Subject index – p893 (p171)*[https:Users may find the search function useful (either the binoculars icon on the left hand side of the screen or ctrl+F)//web.archive.*[org/web/20160717160145/http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/search/pdf/howsearch.pdf Explore The British Library: How do I search for..?] 2016 British Library page, now archived.*[http://copac.ac.uk/search/ Copac Search], a search of over 70 UK and Irish academic national & specialist library catalogues, includes the British Library catalogue. Includes a keyword search. Copac also includes the [http://copac.ac.uk/about/libraries/blrps.html British Library Register of Preservation Surrogates], which does not appear to be mentioned on the British Library website. Some India related items, stated to be available at the British Library were noted in the BLRPS, which could not be seen in the British Library’s own catalogue, e.g. this [http://copac.ac.uk/search?title=School%20memorials.%20%3A%20Chapel-West%20Door.&crns=74000041880%20&rn=1&show-library=Register%20of%20Preservation%20Surrogates Sanawur : Lawrence Royal Military School entry]===Historical books online===*[https://archive.org/details/guidetoindiaoffi00greauoft/page/n5 ''A Guide to the India Office Records, 1600-1858''] by William Foster 1919. Archive.org