I couldn't agree more with you, Robin. One of the articles I scanned about the NARA release of the 1930 said that the particular regional facility opened at midnight to allow extra research time for the anticipated rush of genies, and the interviewee told that she wasn't the only one there at opening time. As for Ancestry... Well, I stayed away from them for years because I just had heard too many similar frustration stories and at those times they didn't have enough for me to invest time or money for what they then offered. I still don't think the service is up to par, but since they now have some new and more extensive British Isles data and the Images Online project, I did recently break down and purchase some time. I do find that between the times they have temporarily interrupted service, or poor connections and less than efficient navigating, along with what you mention regarding the index inconsistencies, it is frustrating. I have to say though, I believe I will have gotten my money's worth, where in past I know I wouldn't have, as most of what would have been available could and should be gotten elsewhere. With a much busier, complicated life I now enjoy the convenience of desktop searches and save time waiting for ordered films, sources and computer/reader availability. Some FHLs have more hours than mine, which only has one day per week that is opened past banking hours, and they're not open any weekend time. It is infuriating when you know someone's there and they don't show up on Ancestry search results. I can understand some missing folks due to spelling or human error, but far too many people are seemingly nonexistent in the most key times for researching details of their lives. <sigh> Di -- In a message dated 02/4/3 3:30:16 PM, robinkaspar@attbi.com writes: << For what it's worth, I'm staying far away from the NARA for a few months. That 1-1/2 hour drive to DC (in DC traffic) isn't worth it just to find out a bazillion other people are there, too. I got a short Ancestry subscription to check out what they have to offer. Navigating around the site once I've logged in is a little frustrating, cause it seems I get a different screen every time I want to search for something. The censuses that are indexed are much nicer than the ones that aren't, yet the indexing seems inconsistent. For instance, I was trying to search on the name of a child since I didn't know her parents' names. She didn't come up. So I thought, ok they've only indexed heads of household, or only the adults, etc. Well, in other searches I've seen children (and babies) come up in the indexes. So I don't get it. Some of the indexes show the person's age, some of them don't. >>