Ancestry.com provides a very large database of FREE genealogy information. They also provide a very large. but seperate, database that they charge for. They have transcribed many books, journals, newspapers, etc that we would never be able to ordinarilly see. They have to PAY people to do this for them. It is not free to them. It only stands to reason that they should recover hteir costs from the people who benefit from their investment. Accusing them for charging for their service is like getting mad at your local car dealer for not giving you a car free. What they get for free - you get for free. What they have to pay for - you have to pay for. Where's the problem?