Society helps Fifers unearth their roots

Tomorrow (Saturday) will see the official opening of a family history research room in the town’s library, run by Fife Family History Society.

The resource has re-located from Methil LIbrary, which, like Cupar, is run by Fife Cultural Trust.

The Society, however, is run by volunteers and has charitable status.

Volunteer committee member Alison Murray said: “This is an exciting move for us all, and we very much look forward to having a presence in the library, being more hands on and involved in the local community.

“The volunteers all have a great wealth of knowledge and a passion for what they do will be on hand to help.

“The room will be manned three days a week by the volunteers. There are many resources both in the Family Research Room and in the library itself with everything to hand.

“The library provides computer access to one of the largest ancestral websites available online, and there are resources such as newspaper archives, almanacs, birth, death and marriage indexes and records held on microfiche.

“There are also many useful publications produced by Fife Family History Society and books available in the library that can often offer up that missing piece of information or help break down a frustrating brick wall.”

Founded in 1989, Fife Family History Society aims to help people keen to find their Fife ancestors, and has members all over the world.

The newly re-located archives are open tomorrow between 10am and 3pm, with the official opening ceremony being carried out at 11am by past chairman Archie Lumsden.

Everyone is welcome to attend and refreshments will be served.

The Family Resource Room will be open on Tuesdays from noon to 4pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10-3pm or by appointment by emailing [email protected]

Meanwhile, the society is to hold a ‘Fife Family & Local History Fair’ on October 8 at the Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline.

The event will include a series of talks and stalls run by a number of family history societies and local history groups.

For more information, visit www.fifefhs.org