Paul, Why do you keep harping on Ancestries fees? I pay about $155 US for a years subscription. That breaks down to less than $13 a month. If I drove to my local library once a week and spent the same 8 hours a day, it would cost me $20 in gas, $32 in parking fees, 9 hours of my time, and still would not get done what I do at home in less time. Quit making Ancestry out to be robbers. Just for the record Paul, what do you charge your clients? My fees are $35/hour plus expenses if I do the work, and $25/ hour to teach you how to do the work yourself, plus expenses. In some cases I will do workshops for groups at cost depending on where it is. That is a lot more than an Ancestry membership my friend. Regards, Steve Stevens -----Original Message----- From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Paul Drake Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 10:11 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Family researches online Despite the myriad duplications, your numbers are important, Tom, just as would be similar, though greater, lists of the records available at the giant libraries and LDS. As are those MANY other sites, Ancestry is important, and in some cases provides access to records that otherwise would be difficult for many to personally access. However the problem is not what is there, it is what about the countless millions of sources that are not there, and how can anyone ever know what is missing?? Plus, those fees are beyond the purse of VERY many of those of us who enjoy this hobby. I think a summary of our several ideas posted here is important. So, if you can afford it, have a pay-for program that has the censuses available. If you can not afford it, attack the problems the old fashioned way; that is, make connections with those societies that are to be found there and with the researchers who live in the area, have access to, and understand the records that are available at that ancestral "where". Short of hiring a accomplished professional, it is only those local people can guide you through the peculiar record problems that always are present (and there are tens of thousands of those), and then exhaust what is there that relates to your search. Enough of the subject for me. It has been fun. Paul ---Original Message----- From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Excalibur131 ....Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Family researches online No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.16/1251 - Release Date: 1/30/2008 9:29 AM To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.16/1250 - Release Date: 1/29/2008 10:20 PM To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html