Almost a fifth of libraries in Britain have closed since 2010

We have a general election next week, and one thing you might wish to bear in mind when casting your vote is that almost one fifth of libraries in Britain have closed since austerity was introduced in 2010.

From today's Guardian: "The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (Cipfa) annual survey of the UK’s libraries, excluding Northern Ireland, shows there are 3,583 library branches still open in the UK – 35 fewer than last year. Since 2010, 773 have closed."

In the same period, the number of librarians has plummeted from 24,000 salaried staff to 15,300. There are now 51,000 volunteers working in libraries also. The number of library visits has equally plummeted from 315 million visits in 2009/2010 to just 226 million visits over the last year.

The full story is available at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show.

There may be many factors affecting how you vote this year. Hopefully you can throw this one into the mix also before December 12th!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

National Archives launches Suffrage 100 portal

The National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) has launched a new platform to commemorate the securing of the right to vote for some women a century ago. From the site:

100 years of women’s suffrage

2018 marks 100 years since some women were given the vote in parliamentary elections and 90 years since women got to vote on equal terms to men. The National Archives has a world-renowned collection of documents relating to the 20th century women’s suffrage movement. The wealth of records come from a range of government departments and illustrate the huge impact suffrage campaigns had across government.

Suffrage 100 is part of the nationwide Vote 100 campaign

To view the new platform visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/suffrage-100

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

The Bailie's Great Adventure in Elgin

From Moray and Nairn Family History Society:

Council Corruption

Documents have come to light, revealing council corruption on a grand scale: votes bought and sold; kidnapping; attacks on properties; and, mob rule.

Read all about it (free online) in a new publication from Moray & Nairn Family History Society on their website at http://www.morayandnairnfhs.co.uk/moray.asp, in The Bailie’s Great Adventure.

In the early part of the 19th century, general elections were very different to what we know today. In the town of Elgin, for example, there were only 17 voters. Little wonder then that
the greatest efforts were made to capture the votes of these people. 

This publication describes some of the events surrounding the general election called at the
death of King George III in 1820. It follows the life of one of the bailies of Elgin, Francis
Taylor, during the election period in March that year.

(With thanks to Doug Stewart)

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course commences Sept 11th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102.
For details on my Scottish & Irish genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.
For my genealogy research service, please visit http://www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk.

Archives and elections

As someone who recently stood (and failed!) for election to my local government authority, I have certainly been made much more aware of a lot of activities to do with the electoral process and the rules of the Electoral Commission. One thing that never occurred to me however, was the role of local archives in the carrying out of elections, in particular within their immediate aftermath.

I've just received the latest newsletter from Highland Archive (https://www.highlifehighland.com/archives-service/), and in this there is a fascinating insight into its role on this front.

Most of the documentation from polling stations requires to be kept for a year in accordance with Electoral Commission regulations. This documentation includes the marked register used by the clerk at the polling station when they score off your name when you go to cast your vote, as well as the actual ballot paper you put your cross on in the polling booth. This year, as well as being on duty at the recent local elections, we will also be present at the forthcoming surprise General Election on 8th June to take custody of the documents. The work usually involves being present at the count overnight. We turn up about an hour before the polls close and we are there well after the count ends, because we have to pack all the counted ballot papers when the count staff leave and transport them to the Highland Archive Centre for safe keeping. In the event of a dispute regarding the election, these papers need to be available for scrutiny, so Records Management has an extremely important role to play.

For more on the archive's involvement, and to read the full newsletter, visit http://mailchi.mp/highlifehighland/highland-archive-service-newsletter-may-2017?e=36f4314bac.

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course commences Sept 11th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102.
For details on my Scottish & Irish genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.
For my genealogy research service, please visit http://www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk.

So that was the election...!

So that was the local government election! Despite coming third out of eight candidates in the initial first preference votes in a ward offering three seats, the Scottish elections used the Single Transferable Vote system, which meant taking into account subsequent second, third, fourth preferences etc. Although I fought the election in Ayrshire's Stevenston ward exclusively on local issues, Scottish politics has now essentially become polarised into unionist and nationalist camps, and so with more unionists standing in the ward, most subsequent transfers went their way, leading to my elimination in the fifth round - ironically then allowing my SNP colleague to leap well beyond the quote needed once my transfer votes went her way. C'est la vie!

It was a great experience though, I've had the time of my life, listened to some extraordinary stories, and had some great banter with my friends and political opponents. No matter what your political beliefs are, or who you vote for, I would absolutely encourage everyone to get active politically at some point in their lives - not only is it invigorating, it is actually great fun, and you might actually just make a difference.

As of Monday then, I am back at your service full time with The GENES Blog, with a few announcements coming your way soon from me on some future ventures overseas that I have already signed up to this year, next year and 2019! Stay tuned... :)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy, A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.