Martin Southwood wrote : Be aware that as of August, the Somerset Record Office will be charging for you to use your camera; a daily license will be £2.00, weekly one £8, and a yearly one £50 ==== I wonder how they justify such a charge. Would they rather have documents exposed to photocopying ? Or is it simply to make money, in which case can we expect the cost to rise each year ? It certainly doesn't help relationships between researchers and archivists. Michael Walsby researching SHARP, STANDERWICK

walsby wrote: > I wonder how they justify such a charge. Would they rather have > documents exposed to photocopying ? > > Or is it simply to make money, in which case can we expect the cost > to rise each year ? > > It certainly doesn't help relationships between researchers and > archivists. No, I don't think it does help, but the record office is falling in line with other offices that already charge. It'll no doubt catch a few researchers out as well. I don't know that it's a money making exercise, although it probably will rise year on year. It would appear to be more a money replacement exercise since so many people now use digital cameras rather than ask for photocopies.