These are the essential online sources which are warmly recommended by librarians and archivists arranged in the order we consider most useful.

Ancestry Library Edition
A web delivered research tool offering comprehensive geneaological information online, with more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 collections. Includes for England and Wales the full enumerators data for the Census Returns 1861-1901 and the indexes to the Civil Registrations of Births, Marrages and Deaths 1837-2000. Middlesbrough Libraries have taken a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition from Proquest Information and Learning. The resource is available in all Middlesbrough branch libraries as well as the Reference Library.

The following web sites can be accessed from your home computer.

Family Records Centre www.familyrecords.gov.uk/default.htm
The FRC, jointly run by the General Register Office and the National Archives, provides access to some of the most important sources for family history research in England and
Wales. From this homepage, click in turn on the tabs Topics, Partners, Guides, Links, Help and Contact Info.

BBC Family History www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/index.shtml
A superb step-by-step guide to the resources and techniques of family history research .

Genuki: UK and Ireland Genealogy www.genuki.org.uk
The aim of GENUKI is to serve as a "virtual reference library" of genealogical information that is of particular relevance to the UK & Ireland. It is a non commercial service,
provided by an ever-growing group of volunteers in cooperation with the Federation of Family History Societies and a number of its member societies.

Directgov www.direct.gov.uk
The main Government web site and the place to turn to for the latest and widest range of public service information.
Tip:From Do It Online click on Search family records.

The National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
The National Archives, which covers England, Wales and the United Kingdom,was formed in April 2003 by bringing together the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission. It is responsible for looking after the records
of central government and the courts of law, and making sure everyone can look at them. The collection is one of the largest in the world and spans an unbroken period from the 11th century to the present day.
Tips:go directly to www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/researchguidesindex.asp

A2A - Access to Archives www.a2a.org.uk
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held throughout England by 357 record offices and other repositories (with full addresses given) and dating from the 900s to the present day. Click on each of the tabs in turn on the home page to get a clear view of the usefulness of this database, particularly Family History, Research Interests and Useful Links.

General Register Office (GRO) - Births, Deaths and Marriages registration www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/
The GRO has a responsibility for England and Wales. There are equivalent offices for Scotland and Northern Ireland (see above Directgov www.direct.gov.uk
Registration in England and Wales dates back to 1837. Since then, several pieces of new legislation have been brought in which affects day to day practices - although the original
approach to registration and the methodologies employed remain relatively unchanged. This site will also allow you to search by town or postcode for your local register office.

FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service www.familysearch.org/
The genealogy site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons. Often just abbreviated to LDS. Over 400 million names on this immense database which includes the International Genealogical Index which you may know in its microfiche edition held by many public libraries. You can also download free family history software from here.
 

Federation of Family History Societies www.ffhs.org.uk
FFHS is an international organisation, established in the UK as a non-profit making charitable company. It represents, advises and supports over 220 family history societies and other genealogical organisations world-wide.

The Genealogist:Search Online Census, Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Record Indexes and Directories www.thegenealogist.co.uk/index.php

S&N Genealogy Supplies - Software, UK Census and Data CDs
www.genealogysupplies.com/

British Data Archive www.britishdataarchive.com/
"Our aim is to provide access to census records in full, in your own home, on both PC and Mac, at a reasonable cost".

24 Hour Museum www.24hourmuseum.org.uk
The 24 Hour Museum is an independent charity funded by the Department of Culture,Media and Sport (DCMS) through MLA - the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. It is the UK's national virtual museum. An excellent site for using in conjunction with A Bibliography of Regimental Histories of the British Army, compiled by Arthur S. White. London Stamp Exchange, 1988. 016.355310941.
Feed the name of the regiment into the search box on the 24 Hour Museum site. If you don't get a result, don'tdespair. Go to the world's most powerful meatasearch engine www.ixquick.com and repeat the search.
For a list of museums internationally, go to the International Council of Museums http://icom.museum/