Hello Ada, Thank you very much for that information and advice, it is much appreciated and I will contact the Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum as you suggest. My message to the list may have given some people the impression that I am a bit of tight a--se, but I can assure you this is not the case. I am very aware of the trouble and expense people and organisations have gone to, in making family history information available to the public. I applaud them for their efforts and heartily agree they should be recompensed. However, I believe that the low income earners of this world have the same rights to their own family history information as those who are more well-to-do, and also have the same passion for such information. I have purchased information from many sources over the past ten years and have subscribed to several newspaper websites and other organisations in that time when finances allow. I have done so willingly, and have a much richer knowledge of my ancestry because of it. To that end I would most gladly become a member of the GSV if my budget would allow it, but at this present time it is out of question. It seems lately that where ever I find an avenue of information I need to put my hand in my pocket and pay dearly for it. I have no qualms about paying for information if it is reasonable and justified, but have so far resisted the temptations of websites such as Ancestory.com who are clearly out to make a profit. Thanks again for your advice. Regards, Barry Howard, Victoria, Australia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ada Ackerly" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 11:40 AM Subject: Re: [AUS-MELBOURNE] criminal records and the GSV > Hello Barry, > > Apart from your lucky free search on the GSV site without being a > member, have you thought of contacting the Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum? > Mr and Mrs Jacks and staff have been steadily expanding their research > databases. I know that, whenever I come across references to chinese as > I index various records at the VPRO, I send them on to Bendigo Museum, > and they always acknowledge my contribution. > > They are very friendly. But, as an enquirer, I would expect to be asked > for a search fee: it costs money to run a society/ museum/ database for > the public. It costs money (from members fees) to run a website. > Personnel have to be paid to keep adding to the databases, etc, So, if I > seek information, I don't begrudge being asked for a contribution, > though I doubt you would be asked by the Dragon Museum "to join" as a > member/supporter. > > Worth considering as a research venue, however. > > Regards, Ada Ackerly > (contributor to the GSV database from my VPRO indexes)