The Council of the A.I.G.S. has introduced
this Service to help all our Members with their research.
It is only for Institute members and is not in competition
with our normal Research Service
We invite you to
help each other and share your local knowledge and skills.
This initiative is as a direct result
of the Survey filled in by members earlier this year.
Many AIGS Members live a considerable distance
from Melbourne and would dearly love to be able to do local research
in Melbourne or suburbs such as Frankston, Preston, Richmond or similar
metropolitan areas.
Those of us who live and work in the metropolitan
area may be limited in how much time we can spend travelling further
afield to places like Harrietville, Dimboola or elsewhere.
Similarly many Members are unable to travel
because they are unwell or are looking after sick or elderly family members.
We will maintain databases on the website of members who are
willing to provide some limited research opportunities for their fellow
members.
Offers by Members to undertake research in
their immediate area will be stored under Places on the database on the
Website with their membership numbers.
Some Members may live and/or work in places
of interest to others and are willing to search:
For example,
photograph Churches in Brighton; look for
school history in Carlton;
search musems or other places of interest
in country towns.
SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE
Members may have special skills, such
as reading Latin, or own a fantastic book about Chester or the history
of Melbourne.
They may own a copy of a CD or other database
whose licence allows material to be shared in this way.
These too will be listed in the database under
Subject headings.
For example,
Members may request a look-up in a book
or CD database
Members may seek someone to help with
a translation of an old document.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
A member wanting help in an area, contacts
the Webmaster by
or writes to the AIGS Office at Blackburn and requests the Member’s
contact details, having also supplied a stamped self-addressed envelope
and the enquirer's membership number.
Members requesting help should be prepared
to pay for out-of-pocket expenses incurred, such as postage and photocopying.
Where possible, email should be used to
limit costs.
What can you do to help the Service?
Members willing to provide assistance
will need to provide their membership number and their area of expertise.
This information will be collated
and updated within the AIGS website.
It is unlikely that anyone
would be called on more than once or twice a year.
Just think of the pleasure you will give if you can help.
Please Lend a Hand and send in
your offer of help by
or forward a
Registration Form
to the Institute the office.
