Hello-
I now have the two 1870 Kosciusko Cnty Census films on order. They will
arrive in about three weeks.
With the 1880 Wabash, Noble and Steuben county census last month, I
performed free look ups for people who emailed me. So far this has amounted
to around fifty heads of households plus the members within the house.
I used a day of annual leave, over a few weeks, plus paid the loaner fees of
$3.50 each film (around $20 so far), to do this.
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.
Please chime in with an opinion - I suppose to my private email address
below unless anyone thinks this is a wider discussion list topic - in which
case post to the list.
Thanks. Kerry Butler. kbutler(a)biztech.net