Karen, I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you. I believe that the offers of lookups helps everyone, including the genealogical societies. When the offer is made for lookups in such and such a publication that information reaches rooters across the country. People that would not normally be aware of the publication are now wondering if it could help in their research. On other lists, along with requests for lookups, I see many requests for more information about the publication and where it can be purchased. The more often a publication is cited as a source, the more requests there are for where to purchase the book. For one particular book published by the Genealogical Society of Allegany Co., MD, now out of print, the Society was accomodating requests by copying the pages of the book. The Allegany Co., MD list is a very active list and in my opinion certainly the best of all those to which I subscribe. It has a "talking over the fence with friends and neighbors" atmosphere. There is never a question asked that goes unanswered. It generates a lot of messages, but the messages contain ideas, suggestions, address and publication info and many other forms of help. This list even organized a Rooter's picnic that was held in Cumberland early this summer. List participants traveled great distances to exchange information and meet representatives from the Genealogical Society and County offices. The Genealogical Society was able to sell a number of their publications at this picnic. >From the number of requests for information about the costs and address of the Genealogical Society, I would think that their membership has increased greatly. The Society is now working to make some information available through use of the USGenWeb. The latest communication on the list is the organization of a plan whereby the list subscribers can send a donation toward the purchase of Census CD's from S-K Publications. The list members would like this to be a joint venture with the Genealogical Society of Allegany Co., MD and they have proposed this for consideration by the Society board. As the Society is an official non-profit organization, they can collect donations earmarked for the purchase of the census CD's from S-K Publications. When sufficient finds are collected, they can order the CD for a particular year. When the CD is completed, the Society would receive a copy and so would USGenWeb. This is just an example of what can be done when everyone works together. Everyone gains something! It's my firm belief that all this came out of people offering to do lookups for others. From my point of view, whenever I have received information from a lookup, I them am interested in purchasing the book. If the book includes information on this one ancestor, what other information might I find? I feel lookup information is only a lead, much the same as the date and place of birth. What do you do when you run across the date and place of birth? You go to the court house to check the records and find additional information. What would you do when you get information from a lookup offer? You search for the book, either in a local library or from the genealogical society in that area. I think it is up to the genealogical societies to find new avenues to promote themselves. Sometimes having a web page is not enough. You need something there to keep people coming back. Let people know what a great source you are. Personally, I have received a lot of help and valuable information from many genealogical societies. My personal library contains many books published by several genealogical societies. These books are some of the best research tools available. Pat O'Toole At 04:01 PM 25-08-98 -0400, you wrote: >I am posting this message to the list on behalf of the executive committee of >The Fairfield County Chapter of The Ohio Genealogical Society. We are all >aware that a large portion of genealogical information is found by sharing. >We do not begrudge any researcher of free information. However, if the >information contained in the publications for sale by the Fairfield Co. >Chapter OGS is continually given free of charge then our society faces serious >consequences. >Any and all suggestions will be appreciated and considered. > >Karen S. Smith >Corresponding Secretary, Fairfield Co. Chapter OGS