Hawick opening starts family history network extension
A Scottish government minister has visited the Borders to officially open a facility to research family history from national as well as local records.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop was at the Hub in Hawick, which is the first in an extended network of centres opening across Scotland.
The site enables people to trace their ancestry and find out more about their families and the local area.
Further centres will be opened across the country in the weeks to come.
Ms Hyslop said: "In the Year of Creative Scotland, this is a fantastic opportunity for more people to connect with Scotland's rich heritage through researching their own family history.
"There's increasing evidence that ancestral tourism is a growing and important niche market for Scotland - some 50 million people worldwide claim Scottish ancestry.
"People visiting or living in the Borders can now research their family history by accessing a national resource at a location that's convenient for them."