Hi Sheena
 
  My wife is also an archaeologist and does a lot of DBAs so is often searching HERs - sometimes with more than one search in the same area over a few years.
 
She says that she would like to be able to search on an option of "Records added/changed since X" with X being a date.
 
This would avoid paying a set fee for a search only to get back the exact same datasearch from the last job. In addition it would also allow you to say in your terms and conditions that the data is constantly being updated and added to and only represents the HER at the time of search.
 
As to updated searches - most HER's do this on a case by case basis - I guess because they know the area well and have an idea of the level of new records in an area and therefore the need for a new search.
 
Hope thats useful,
 
  Andy (on behalf of my wife)

________________________________

From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records on behalf of Sheena Payne
Sent: Fri 18/07/2008 13:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HER Search policies



Dear all,

Here in Worcester we are in the process of tweaking some of our policy
documents and have been thinking about the issue of data shelf life, so to
speak.  I was just wondering whether anyone has a phrase in their terms &
conditions referring to how long the HER data provided remains current?  Do
you have any guidance on how and when searches need to be updated?  We are
thinking particularly about ongoing programmes of archaeological work where
a search might be requested early on in the process but when it comes to
writing the report, the information may well be massively out of date. 
Also where several activities are undertaken by the same contractor within
close proximity, what sort of rules as to when to request searches do you
use?  Are there any nice phrases we might be able to lift from other
people's policy documents?!

Many thanks in advance,

Sheena

Sheena Payne
Historic Environment Record Officer

email:         [log in to unmask]
telephone:  01905 721133
address:      Orchard House, Farrier Street
                      Worcester WR1 3BB
website:     www.worcester.gov.uk
                      www.worcestercitymuseums.org.uk