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 Census  of Westmorland

The project involves the transcribing initially of the census for 'free to view' access on the internet.     We are making great inroads and volunteers are always welcome to join us in this very worthwhile project. If you have a fiche reader, or access to one, some spare time and a computer then we would love your participation in the project.

The software can be downloaded from the FreeCensus site http://freecen.rootsweb.com         and there is now a choice of two to choose from.          Recently a spreadsheet format SSCENS has been finalised as quite a few people expressed a preference to use a spreadsheet instead of the original software WINCENS.

This project has been endorsed by the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City and they are assisting us by loaning the microfiche to enable transcriptions to be carried out. If you feel you would like to contribute to the project by transcribing or checking then please contact myself, Carol,  at Carol.Barber@blueyonder.co.uk and I will answer any questions you may have as to what is involved as a volunteer.   The FreeCensus website gives details of the project but if you want anything clarifying then please contact me.

Listed below are the areas that I have been allocated and their status, e.g. allocated for transcribing, checking and so on.       

Click on the links below to see  the district's progress and allocations.  Last update 2nd Feb 2008

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FreeCEN needs help with the transcribing and checking.

• Volunteers need a computer and access to a microfiche reader.
• Microfiche, software, instructions and lots of advice will be supplied by the organisers.
• The software is designed to make the task as easy as possible. Although the software is designed for PC/Windows machines, arrangements can be made to accommodate Linux-based PCs and Apple computers.
• There is also a dedicated mailing list to ask questions on and to receive advice about changes or upgrades to the software.

Project Phases: There are two phases (the first two) affecting transcription and where help is primarily needed.

Phase 1 : Transcription

Each transcriber/inputer will have the option of transcribing his or her allocated fiche in one of three ways, or a mixture of all. It is hoped that the majority will be able to accomplish their transcription by using one of the first two means:

• directly from fiche to computer at home;
• directly from fiche to computer at library or LDS FHC etc.;
• two-step transcription:
• transcription from fiche to paper (by hand or printed output from fiche);
• transcription from the paper form to computer.

Phase 2 : Checking Each transcribed piece will be checked by another volunteer using another computer program.

Phase 3 : Validation A validation will be carried out using local knowledge of the county to assist particularly in the validation of placenames.

Phase 4 : Data Cleansing and Database Upload By the FreeCEN Database Administrator.

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