Kerry, There are a lot of fellow genealogists doing free lookups for others - most of the genweb sites have a page with lookup offers. I have several books I do lookups in for free. You're not stepping into anyone's territory if you want to do lookups for free. That's a big difference between a lookup and doing someone's genealogy for them. I'm always careful to cite the source and page and use quotes when I share something out of one of my books. There aren't any copyright infringements (I don't think) for sharing little snippets. I have, however, told people that a particular book has a lot of info they might be interested in and tell them how to get a copy of it for their own library. Genealogists are the most sharing bunch I've ever seen! Sherry At 10:05 AM 11/29/99 -0500, you wrote: >Hello- > <snip> >I have a question for the discussion lists - Am I suppose to charge >(nominally) for this, or is it acceptable to offer these things for free? I >have no problem doing free lookups generally. If it becomes too much, I >don't do them. I look up my stuff first, then others'. As for the rental >fees, I don't know of any way to ask for people who want lookups for a share >of the cost - it is too small an amount of money for each person. A stamp >would exceed their share! Besides, I wanted to rent the film for my own >purposes anyway, not because anyone requested it of me. I would not of spent >less money, and only perhaps four hours of time less, if no one at all had >requested anything of me. > >However - am I undermining other people who do lookups for a fee as their >"side" or primary business? Should I ask for a share cost of the rental fee >for the films if I do other lookups in them? > >My inclination is to charge nothing, do whatever I have time for, and keep >an "account" of names to email in case I have a lookup favor they can do for >me in return some day in the future. I have no desire to bring money issues >into this hobby of mine. > ><snip> >Thanks. Kerry Butler. [email protected] >