My friends - As we all know, since the 9/11 tragedy, there has been a movement in many states to restrict access to vital statistics records. In Kentucky, a new set of guidelines were passed in the last session, which really does not hinder the genealogist greatly. In other states, stricter laws relating to record access have been put into effect, which have impacted research efforts. Most of these restrictive laws place a cut-off date for allowing access, such as 50 years for marriage and divorce records, 50-75 years for death records and 75-100 years for birth records. In other places, especially in cases in which the state and local genealogical societies lobbied against such action, uncertified copies of records would be offered, with cutoff dates only on requests for certified copies(a non-certified copy could not be used in identity theft attempts). Much of this has been due to concern over identity theft, even though a recent report indicated that online genealogical materials accounted for a very small percentage of such illegal actions. The USGenWeb(which is the national overseer of the state projects, such as the KYGenWeb, the latter of which I am, as many of your know, the Assistant State Coordinator)Advisory Board is now debating whether and how, if at all, the USGenWeb should set up guidelines for materials donated to the USGenWeb Archives(such as the materials in the Calloway County KYGenWeb Archives and other county archives throughout KY, which fall under the USGenWeb Archives), insofar as the protection of information about living person is concerned. There have been a few(very few) complaints, apparently, raised with the Advisory Board by researchers, concerning seeing information on living persons in the USGenWeb Archives. I would like to get as much input from our subscribers on this issue as possible, so that I can pass it on to our KY State Coordinator and to the Southeast/Middle Atlantic Regional Coordinator(which covers KY)for eventual use in the Advisory Board debate on this issue, should it occur. Please take a few minutes and send *directly to me* (NOT the List please, as this would clog up our inboxes and is such a hot button issue that debate is immediately stirred up and can go on at great length) what your thoughts on this subject might be. Do you believe that the USGenWeb should even be involved in such a matter? If so, what sort of policy should be enacted(such as cut-off times, permission sought from living persons before data is posted, all data posted without consideration whether data on living people is present in the materials, or other approaches). I know what my thoughts are on this matter, but they may not be in accord with a majority of others. This is a very "hot" issue, of course, since, in essence, it may deal with access to the very lifeblood of our work(VS and other records) and is being debated vigorously on lists associated with the USGenWeb itself. Everyone has something of a different perspective about it, which is understandable. Your thoughts will be welcome. -B ====================================================================