New Opening Times
Over the last year we have established that weekend opening at the Research Centre, and particularly Saturday opening, is inconvenient to the majority of members and the public. Accordingly, from 1st June 2012 the Research Centre will not normally be open on a Saturday. However, we will continue to open on the second Sunday in the month from 11.00am to 16.00 pm for those that cannot attend during the week
Library Catalogue now on-line
We are delighted to be able to now offer visitors to the site the opportunity to search the catalogue of books and other items that we hold in our library at the Research Centre in Reading. This will allow potential visitors to identify which items they may find useful before journeying to the centre and perhaps show others the wide range of books that we stock.
The catalogue is shown in two versions. There is the fully searchable one and a browsable one. Clicking on the former will take you to a page giving full instructions for the use of the searchable catalogue.
To visit the catalogue, in the left hand menu, click Research Centre > Library and then either the searchable or browsable version of the index.
Posted 21 April 2012.
Family History for Beginners
Have you thought about tracing your ancestors?
Made a New Years resolution to have a go at starting it?
Would like to start but don't know where to begin?
Have just started but now need help & advice?
Rescue is at hand in the form of an evening introductory session at our Research Centre where experienced family historians will guide you through the necessary stages to get you off on a firm start. The course will cost just £5 and will run from 7.30 - 9.00pm on 15 February 2012.
Places are limited so get your application in early to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If the date is inconvenient or more people want to take this up, we will look at further sessions.
Posted 3 January 2012
Research Centre News
Research your Family History at weekends
For a trial period, we have introduced Saturday opening (the fourth Saturday each month - but not in August). (This replaces the previous fourth Sunday opening.) The Centre still opens on the second Sunday each month).
Weekend opening times are 11 am to 4 pm
SPECIAL OFFER FOR NON MEMBERS
Available for non-members of the Society during August and September
Water, water everywhere
Torrential downpours in Reading on 18 August saw flash floodwater pouring into the Research Centre. Quick thinking by those volunteers on duty averted any serious damage. The Centre will continue to open at the stated times. Apart from some rearranged furniture, you wouldn't know anything was different - and all research facilities remain available.
revised 19 August 2011
An Opportunity!
Do you enjoy family History?
Do you like helping others?
If you can answer "Yes" to both of these questions then why not become a volunteer Research Assistant at the Research Centre. It is not a difficult job providing that you have a good basic knowledge of family history and are comfortable about using computers. The work is fun and you get to meet a lot of interesting people.
In addition, you get to know more about the working of the Society. Full training will be given and your first few sessions will be with a more experienced assistant who will ease you into the job. Will all members please give this some urgent consideration as the running of the Centre depends on sufficient members volunteering their services.
