Kerry,
There are a lot of fellow genealogists doing free lookups for others - most
of the genweb sites have a page with lookup offers. I have several books I
do lookups in for free. You're not stepping into anyone's territory if you
want to do lookups for free. That's a big difference between a lookup and
doing someone's genealogy for them.
I'm always careful to cite the source and page and use quotes when I share
something out of one of my books. There aren't any copyright infringements
(I don't think) for sharing little snippets. I have, however, told people
that a particular book has a lot of info they might be interested in and
tell them how to get a copy of it for their own library.
Genealogists are the most sharing bunch I've ever seen!
Sherry
At 10:05 AM 11/29/99 -0500, you wrote:
Hello-
<snip>
I have a question for the discussion lists - Am I suppose to charge
(nominally) for this, or is it acceptable to offer these things for free? I
have no problem doing free lookups generally. If it becomes too much, I
don't do them. I look up my stuff first, then others'. As for the rental
fees, I don't know of any way to ask for people who want lookups for a share
of the cost - it is too small an amount of money for each person. A stamp
would exceed their share! Besides, I wanted to rent the film for my own
purposes anyway, not because anyone requested it of me. I would not of spent
less money, and only perhaps four hours of time less, if no one at all had
requested anything of me.
However - am I undermining other people who do lookups for a fee as their
"side" or primary business? Should I ask for a share cost of the rental fee
for the films if I do other lookups in them?
My inclination is to charge nothing, do whatever I have time for, and keep
an "account" of names to email in case I have a lookup favor they can do for
me in return some day in the future. I have no desire to bring money issues
into this hobby of mine.
<snip>
Thanks. Kerry Butler. kbutler(a)biztech.net