To: Mr. Howell C. Sasser I'm probably going to get in deep mud for this reply but here goes. I totally empathsize with you on being bombarded for hardcopy requests. Ocassionally, I have an item that I would very much like to post to the list for informational reasons but, in the end, I will just stick it in my files. In years past, before the electronic age, we searchers, would reference a book & page number, or a book name and the receiving party would then send for that record themselves or use the abstract you assembled. Research is hard work, mentally, and it is costly at times especially if, like I, you must pay a researcher for these items most of the time. In past years, I would send off for a record and possibly wait a month on it. Or have a wish list saved for my next trip to the library. At some point you mention these records and then have tons of people wanting copies immediately. So, you are looking at these pages, that you have spent many months or years collecting not to mention the $$ involved, you take your time to copy them, mail them, and in my experience hardly ever receive a thank you from the receipient and very seldom do they reimburse for the costs involved of mailing & copy. With the introduction of the computer, genealogists have become a spoiled bunch. If I wish to share an item with someone, I have found myself repling directly to them rather than posting to the list. Mainly because I do not mind sending a copy to someone who is researching my line but do not have the time and money to make 15 or 20 copies of my hard earned documents. This is sad because the list loses valuable information in the end. I've also noticed myself becoming a little cynical and untrusting of the people that tell you they have such & such and will trade. In my experience so far, I'm the one doing the contributing and I have yet to receive much in return that is worth a flip. I do not mean only the Sasser list but the other lists that I subscribe too as well. It seems to be a common trait in this computer age. So, in the future, I plan to ask for Book & page number, book name & author, where did you find this so I can send for it, etc. for any records, or information that I see posted to the list that I am interested in. I think it was very generous of you to post your original message and I appreciate the information. I hope others on this list have thanked you as well.