I agree and use LDS, especially for town/state records that I live too far from to access, however unless you go to Utah and their main library, to view micro-filmed records you still need to pay to have them sent to your local LDS center (averages 3.50 per reel) so if you want to look at a number of items, the costs add up). Yes, they are a GREAT resource and hold HUGE amounts of records, but "free" they're not. Laurie **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
Laurie, One slight clarification. The LDS Church does support many free genealogy areas. For example see: http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp On this web site you can search for free the Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index, Pedigree Resource File, 1880 US Census, 1881 British Census, 1881 Canadian Census, Social Security Death Index, Vital Records Index and more. You can also get Research help, guidance and find what is available in the Family History Library Catalog. For beginners and more advanced users they are a great resource and where you can even down load a FREE fully functional genealogy program. Yes, mailing costs go up and those micro film reels, books and such not at the local Family History Center (free to enter & use what is there) can be ordered at cost of mailing. Oh, copies printed or photcopied cost also! I down load these items and more to a flash drive for no charge. Many volunteers at many FHCs are non-LDS. They will help teach you to conduct the research on your ancestry. John R. Carpenter La Mesa, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: <LAURIE4756@aol.com> To: <carpenter-l@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 4:15 AM Subject: Re: [CARPENTER] Really FREE File Sharing > I agree and use LDS, especially for town/state records that I live too > far > from to access, however unless you go to Utah and their main library, to > view > micro-filmed records you still need to pay to have them sent to your > local > LDS center (averages 3.50 per reel) so if you want to look at a number of > items, the costs add up). > Yes, they are a GREAT resource and hold HUGE amounts of records, but > "free" > they're not. > > Laurie