Book excerpt: Written in a friendly, accessible style with lots of practical examples of searches and personal stories, "The People Finder" can be used as a DIY handbook for those who want to attempt the search themselves or as a guide to finding the best possible help. Whether you are looking for an old school friend, a natural parent or estranged relatives who have become part of the British diaspora - the biggest in history - "The People Finder" makes sense of the vast amount of information available, providing useful contacts and valuable resources both in the UK and internationally. Karen Bali offers advice on ways to use the web, tracing births, marriages and deaths, locating public records, finding people through their work and hobbies, using agencies and other organisations and how to make contact once you find someone. Losing touch with family members, friends and loved ones is more common today than eve before. A house move, a lost address book or a change of phone numbers can be all that it takes. Whatever your reasons for searching, "The People Finder" offers real life case studies and advice on: What to do before you start? Tips on researching; Where to find public records? How to contact specialist organisations? What to look for on the internet? How to approach someone for information? And, how to keep in touch and plan your reunions.