Hi Robert
I might be able to help you here. I frequently visit the Strathclyde Genealogy Centre in Glasgow, my next visit is this comming Friday 13 July. If you wish, I can look up the birth of Patrick Anthony Murphy born in Ayrshire 1918.
I will only be able to copy the details from the certificate as a "print off" might not be allowed due to age restrictions (I'm not sure). If I can, a copy will cost me 50 pence, then we can decide how to get it to you.
The Genealogy Centre is in Park Circus Glasgow. There is a direct computer link to GRO Edingburgh. All Scottish BMDs from 1855 to 2007 can be viewed on computer, plus off course Scottish census returns 1841 to 1901. It costs £14 for a full day's research (9:30am till 4:00pm) and you have exclusive use of your own allocated pc. As I said above, you are allowed to copy all details from your monitor, and it costs 50 pence per hard copy acquired by the staff who are very helpful and can assist you if you get stuck. All in all a great place for Scottish records. I dont believe you can phone up and request a search plus copy. You have to phone up and book your appointment, they are normally very busy - eg if you phoned today the first available place will be around end of August/beginning of September. They have a web site.
You said you are new to researching in Scotland, I hope the above information is helpful to you. Get back to me if you want the birth lookup done, and I will squeeze you in during my own research.
Best Regards
Tom
Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland.