Playing 'devil's advocate': digitally photographing a page is NOT the same as using a pencil - it is the same as having a photocopy made. I believe the RO does charge for photocopying, so any charge for digital photography should be the same as their income for photocopying. It would take a long time to hand copy a detailed page! Regards Graham -----Original Message----- From: monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jean Smith Sent: 25 April 2007 15:37 To: monmouthshire@rootsweb.com Subject: [MON] Message on behalf of all Monmouthshire Family History researchers The following was posted by mike John on the monfh discussion group, and I think it bears repeating here. If you think that charges at the Gwent RO for using your own resources (digital camera) are unfair, please sign the petition. Mike says: I have just started a petition to get Gwent records office to abolish this ridiculous new charge they have introduced, on the use of personal cameras. <http://www.petitiononline.com/brychan/petition.html>http://www.petition online.com/brychan/petition.html I have also contacted all the M.P's & A.M's for Gwent who have assured me they would look in to the matter and have also asked for a copy of the minutes of the meeting where the decision was made. I have also found out that 1 if not 2 representatives of the Gwent family history society was at this meeting, one being Mr Geoff Riggs, so as family historians and past, present and potential members of the society we would like to know what their postion was about this charge. Using your camera at a public records office is the same as writing the information down on a notepad, new technology is to be welcomed especially when it makes life a lot more easier, for myself I have been able to photograph the parish records, take them home and then share the work of transcribing them with other family researchers. All these transcriptions can be found free on my website <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~monfamilies/myfamily-history.h tm>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~monfamilies/myfamily-history .htm So why charge someone for using their camera, you would not charge them for using a pencil, also will they bring in a charge for using laptops. If you live in Gwent or even outside contact local M.Ps & A.M's and express your concern about this unfair charge. Contact Jessica Morden M.P <mailto:mordenj%40parliament.uk>mordenj@parliament.uk or Anthony Jermyn <mailto:JERMYNA%40parliament.uk>JERMYNA@parliament.uk her case worker who are looking in to the matter on my behalf. Mike John ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message