This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Jardine Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WeC.2ACI/1313.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Have to throw my 2 cents in even though I wasn't part of the original discussion. I've used a few of the FHS in Scotland for lookups and also bought a couple of census cd's. For all the countless work involved from the Family History Society volunteers a few pounds was well worth it. (Even with the exchange rate from Canadian and the postage.) I also use the local LDS Family History Centre every week. The cost to order in a microfilm/microfiche is nominal. The Family History Centre also has several computers with access to Ancestry.com and other information that is not online. Available at no cost to patrons. When the information is available for a small donation to a local Family History Society I would much rather pay a few pounds/dollars to support them than pay a commerical enterprise or see someone start up a "Free" project to compete with the FHS. That does seem like needless duplication of effort. For the record I'm not a member of any Scottish FHS or the LDS but I do respect what they do for us. Regards, Win MacKenzie Victoria, BC