Using our web site
Purpose
The purpose of this web site is to enable you to conduct your own historical research in the West Midlands. If you cannot find what you are looking for please Contact us
and we will do our best to help you. Don't be bashful - your requests inform us what you want, and this will help us plan what other material to add.
What are the contents of the web site?
The web site currently contains images of electoral rolls, trade directories, local history books, Regimental histories and a few indexes generated by Family History Societies. These are all searchable, so to find what you want use the search page. However,
please bear in mind that the searchable text is computer generated, so will not be 100% accurate.
How do I read downloaded books ?
If you choose to download a book it will be downloaded into your "Downloads" folder as a ZIP file. In order to view the book, you will need to extract these files from the
ZIP file and copy them to a convenient location. One of the files will be named "contents.pdf". Click on this, and the book will be displayed with bookmarks so you can navigate
around the book. More detailed instructions are downloaded into the ZIP file in a file name "ReadMe.pdf" which you can read by clicking this link.
Pay-per-view and prices
The web site is pay-per-view, and you can either purchase pay-per-view credits or a subscription. Each Pay-per-view credit allows you to view 1 image of a page from the collection.
Alternatively, subscriptions are available for 3 month , 6 month, and 12 month periods. Subscriptions allow you an unlimited number of page views for the period of the subscription.
See Prices.
We suggest that you start with a few Pay-per-view credits, and if it seems that the web-site will assist your research, then purchase a Subscription.
How do I access your web site
The steps to access our web-site are as follows
- Register - or log in (if you have already registered)
- Purchase access - to purchase access click on "Buy", select what package you wish to purchase, and select your method of payment. If you choose a credit card option, you will be transferred to WorldPay who process our credit card transactions.
- Use the web site - once we have received payment you can use the web site immediately. If you are successful in making a credit card payment, you will be returned to our web-site
from WorldPay and can start using our web site immediately. If you pay by cheque, we will advise as soon as we receive your cheque, will activate your credits or subscription
and advise you by email.
Why do I have to register on your web site?
We need to take a minimum of personal details from you so we can identify you - for example, if you were to forget your password and user name, when we recreate it and give you
access to your subscription we will have to make sure that it is indeed you who are making the request. We also need to have some details to enable you to make payments.
Our privacy policy
Although we ask you for your name and address, we do not share this information with anyone else apart from WorldPay as required by their payment authorisation process. We never pass
on this information to any other third party.
How can I pay?
We can accept payments by cheques in GB £ sterling drawn on a UK bank. However, we think you will find it more convenient to pay by credit/debit card (PayPal is also available
- we can receive payments as shown below). All card payments, including PayPal, are processed by WorldPay.