Could I just please put in a couple of words on this topic. Folks who have started doing genealogy since the advent of the computer age really don't realize how things used to be. This idea of "free" genealogy is new and if you stop to think about it the word "free" isn't really accurate. First of all... let's go back to 1968 when I started doing genealogy. If you were lucky to live near a large library with a good genealogy collection then you had access to that collection. If not then you had to order documents and rent census on microfilm and purchase the books yourself. It averaged around $3.00 per roll of microfilm which if you were lucky might have all of the county you were interested in. Often it didn't and to see the whole county you had to rent 2 or 3 rolls of film. This was especially true with the later census as the population grew. And.. then you got to keep that film for 3 weeks and then it had to be returned. Which meant that if you discovered later that you needed to check for other families in that same county you had to rent the film again. Documents cost, in some cases you had to pay for the search even when the document wasn't located. Making copies at your local library or post office to share with others added to the expense as did the postage. Now... we are fortunate to have this wonderful technology that allows us to share information in such an easier way. But.... that "free" data that we all enjoy isn't really free. Those census records that are transcribed and on line. Those transcribers had to purchase the film themselves and then do all that work to put that information there. Those cemetery records that are there for all of us to use. Those transcribers had to use their gas, office supplies, their computer, had to purchase the software to create the databases, etc. So all that "data" out there on the various pages like USGenWeb is there because someone else was willing to use their money and their time and their expertise to provide that data for us to use. And then look at the mechanism for sharing itself. It takes money to keep all these networks working. That data takes up space - storage space on drives that aren't exactly cheap. The software required to manage all these intricate systems is costly. The skill and knowledge necessary to run and maintain these networks costs money. The servers to run all this network are costly. This is not a "cheap" technology. Where in heavens name do all of us think the money to support all of this and keep it available is going to come from? Now.. let's talk a bit about the commercial companies. First of all, that is what they are - a business. They are in the genealogy business. We don't expect gas stations to give us free gas. We don't expect grocery stores to give us free food. After all, they are businesses. Why do we expect genealogy companies to provide free access? I see a lot of criticism of Ancestry on various lists. But the last time I renewed my subscription for the base subscription and the census records I figured it cost me an average of about $14.00 per month. For $14.00 a month I could rent just less than 5 rolls of microfilm. Each time I drive in to the Dallas Library I spend money on gas, usually some food, and pay $2.00 to park. $14.00 won't get me very many visits each month. Not to mention the time involved in getting there and returning. Now... I'm not saying that Ancestry is perfect. Nor am I saying that about any other company out there. But... neither is my cable company or my phone company or my dry cleaners. But we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that all these entities are companies. I think this idea of "free" access to genealogy is wonderful. I am so grateful to all those who are willing to work and offer that information for others to use. But I think we also have to separate in our minds the commercial companies and the USGenWeb efforts. I also think that we have to develop some realism about this concept of "free" access to genealogy data and realize that somewhere, somehow, someone is paying the bill. Thanks for listening - Emma In a message dated 6/13/2003 8:00:20 PM Central Daylight Time, CM7153@aol.com writes: > I think that it is terrible that they keep charging and charging for > information that alot of is what they have gotten free. Ancestry is > outrageous and > then Myfamily wants more? It is not going to be affordable for anyone to do > genealogy if this keeps up. > > Charlotte > > >