Some thoughts on document storage and sharing. Make several copies of original documents by photocopy and or scanning, then store the original [properly, whatever you determine that to be] and only use the copies. This sounds basic but a lot of people make a new copy of the original each time there is a call for it -- which results in a lot of unnecessary handling of often fragile documents. When scanning a copy save the file to .tif. You can open and reproduce it many times without harm. But a file saved as .jpg, while great to email, deteriorates every time it is opened. So keep a .tif of the original for long term storage purposes. Obviously, the attic and the basement are not good storage places. For original irreplacable documents I use the bank vault. I live in hurricane country and I can't think of a better place. Unfortunately, many of them are stored in a bank in tornado country. I don't know if the bank vault can withstand a tornado or not but we haven't come up with a better place. Otherwise, quite frankly, I don't worry about them. The birth/marriage/death certificate, will or whatever you got from the County Clerk is a copy to begin with. I keep a copy of every vital record in digitalized form and share copies with all interested people. I sent copies of all of mine to the local G&H. That way I increase the chances a copy will always be available. Periodically I burn my entire genealogy files collection to CDs, put a copy in my bank vault and send another copy to my cousin to do the same. At home I have a backup copy on two different computers. Again, I am trying hard to make sure it is not lost. It really doesn't pay to keep your genealogy files to yourself. Cheryl Rothwell