Why Genealogy Isn't Always Free
I definitely agree with many of Dick's views. I even get reader complaints when they find they have to register to access records for free (such as was originally required for the RecordsSearch beta at FamilySearch Labs, although that was expanded to a public access pilot last week and no longer requires registration to view the free records). On the other hand, it can be easy sometimes to get frustrated at the high cost of genealogy research. The North Carolina State Archives, for example, charges me an extra $20 fee for each genealogy request (on top of photocopying and mailing expenses) because I do not live in the state. On the one hand, this makes complete sense as a means for keeping records access reasonable for residents whose taxes go to support the archives. But on the other hand, my ancestors have been paying taxes in North Carolina for over 300 years, and literally hundreds of their descendants still live in and pay taxes in the state. Does this give me cause to complain?
Most of the biggest complaints by readers focus on the services provided by commercial genealogy endeavors such as Ancestry.com, WorldVitalRecords.com, Footnote.com and FindMyPast.com, where an annual subscription can set you back anywhere from $50.00 to $200.00 (I'm rounding here). That is definitely a lot of money, although well worth it when you consider the costs of travel, photocopies and other expenses associated with going out and accessing these records on your own. There's also the benefit of being able to research from home -- in your pajamas, at 2:00 a.m. When you consider that Ancestry.com spent well over $10 million dollars in 2007 acquiring and digitizing new content and creating indexes, the price tag isn't nearly as hefty as it first appears.
Instead of complaining about the high cost of genealogy, why not use the time to consider other options? I know it stinks to not be able to afford the high cost of an annual subscription when you know the information about your family is right there, but most such sites do offer monthly subscriptions which can be quite cost-effective if you take time to determine exactly what you're looking for prior to subscribing. Some also offer a pay-per-view option, which can be beneficial if you only need a record or two. You can also find cost-saving tips in Trace Your Family Tree Without Breaking the Bank.
Free is never truly free, so if you plan to benefit from the "free genealogy" efforts of others, why not spend some time helping to get free genealogy records online, either through an organized effort such as FamilySearch Indexing or FreeBMD, or on your own.
Comments
I don’t think it can be emphasized too much to those complaining (and all others who love genealogy) to volunteer especially with the opportunity at Familysearch Indexing!
I am, what I consider, the frugal uncle of our family (translation: cheap). Still, I considered it would be very helpful to subscribe to an online service (to avoid any flaming, I’ll keep the service’s name to myself). I consider it a bargain to be able to examine/copy/save information such as census records. Also (and this ties in with you “Trace Your Family Tree Without Breaking the Bank” page), I am fortunate to live in the same area where many of my ancestors also lived. Still, the cost of record copies is, to me, prohibitive. That’s why I’m looking into purchasing a hand-held scanner to hopefully be able to directly scan source documents into my computer. The cost of that is extremely high to me, but compensated by the fact I should be able to carry it with me when I visit relatives, and finally be able to scan photos/documents which they would be reluctant to lend out. Anyways, that’s my ’scheme’ to avoid the cost of photocopies (there is still the gray area of whether it’s legal, but I’m not looking for any certified copy, which more than likely is transcribed by the county clerk and possibly/probably contains typographical errors which I would be able to hopefully notice while examining that same document at my leisure.
Anyways, as always, I’m rambling…That’s my 2 cents worth. As a post-script, I’m very happy with my online subscription, and though the cost is high, it is very understandable that somewhere down the line payment must be made to allow such information to be disseminated.
Here is my only issue:
I don’t mind that genealogy costs money - I completely understand. These companies spend a lot of money to get that stuff on the net.
However, I also feel for those who want free genealogy. As a college student living off of mac and cheese, I feel for these people. A lot of people can’t afford it (especially in these hard economic times).
I just think that certain websites charge WAY too much when a lot of what they provide is incorrect. For example, Ancestry charges a TON of money (We’re talking $300 for a world yearly subscription service) and yet I keep finding a ton of mistakes on the indexes of these records. And since Ancestry provides the opportunity for people to view the document (for the most part), it is up to the genealogist to look at the image and decide for themselves. However, how is a genealogist supposed to find that image if the index shows a horribly wrong name?
I dunno - I guess I just figure that if Ancestry is going to charge me an arm and a leg, then why can’t they have multiple people proofread the indexes?!
There is an option I see mentioned less and less. Most public libraries and many private or State libraries pay large (very large) sums to subscribe to Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Footnote, GenealogyBank and so on. This is money that you have already contributed to the public library in the form of your tax dollars. Use these resources and support your library at the same time! In most cases, Ancestry being the only major exception, these databases are available to you at home with all of the perks and privileges you get with a personal subscription. And Ancestry, at least at my library is available at every branch. It’s an unbelievable bargain.
Kimberly, I enjoyed your article and know exactly where some of those folks are coming from. I live on a fixed income (SS) which gives me lots of time for my genealogy research but very few funds with which to subscribe to the afore mentioned sites. What I did was create a space where those researching my line Hinsons could pool their research data and in so doing, be able to do a good bit of research totally free. I don’t charge for anything but do ask that those joining, share whatever info they have found on the Hinson line. Certainly this only helps a specific group, but for those researchers, it can save a lot of time and money.
I was going to say exactly what Heather said above. Your local library might well have the subscription service available to you for free, so it pays to check.