NORFOLK-L Archives

Archiver > NORFOLK > 2002-11 > 1036388639


From: "John D. Reid" <>
Subject: Re: LOOKUPS NORFOLK FHS
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 00:43:59 -0500
References: <5.1.1.6.0.20021103193143.00a5bec0@mail.zetnet.co.uk>


Instead of risking being perceived as heavy handed it would be wise for the
NFHS, and other FHSs, to look at this issue from the consumers point of
view.

Very often an individual does not need the whole data set, just an entry or
two. Purchasing the CD means paying a large amount per useful entry, and
then being left with a useless (to them) CD occupying storage space. No
wonder folks don't buy, and seek lookups.

On the other hand, I know of a university researcher who found many entries
from the Norfolk marriage CD of use in his studies. His cost per useful
entry was much less. Why should the individual researcher be paying much
more per useful entry than the university researcher - who probably charged
the cost to a research grant anyway?

Instead why not embrace technology, forget the CD, and go to an online
system, just as the Society of Genealogists has done with <
www.englishorigins.com >? At that site you find out, at no cost, if a name
of interest is in the database. There is no need for shipping and money
exchange. Everyone pays the same per entry viewed, except there is also an
incentive for society membership built in. If you are a SOG member you get
a small amount of free online access each quarter as a benefit of
membership. That's valuable to those of us at a distant who miss out on
personal research, as at Kirby Hall, and the ability to attend Society
meetings - one of the most valuable membership benefits for its networking
potential.

John


----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek Jacobs" <>
To: <>
Sent: November 3, 2002 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: LOOKUPS NORFOLK FHS


> you wrote:
>
> >What a lousy mob the Norfolk Society must be. How many of us can afford
to
> >purchase numerous indexes merely to check out one name.
> >How limited would this and all other "lists" be if every Society took the
> >same mean attitude.
>
>
> As a member of Norfolk FHS and several other FHS there seems to be a
> misconception in some quarters of such a Society's work and operations,
> all carried out by member's on a purely voluntary basis. With minor
> differences every Society operates to a fundamental and only realistic
format.
>
> All transcripts have been undertaken by members and are the copy write of
a
> member or the Society.
> E.g., Lincolnshire are very strict and constantly remind members of
their
> copy write obligations.
>
> A considerable proportion of such work is carried out by members living
far
> from the county, even the country as one regular transcriber I know of
> lives in B.C. and the postage of the original handwritten extracts or
> register copies is no small item.
> Without such there would be no indexed extracts.
>
> Members pay a subscription towards the running costs, a regular magazine
> including lists of members interests,
> printing, postage, purchase of relative information and providing
research
> facilities, including film and fiche viewers, also computer access.
>
> In the case of Norfolk, also running Kirby Hall with its considerable
> records and transcripts, freely available to members. Manned by very
> dedicated members able to travel to and prepared to commit themselves for
> the benefit of the others.
> Also three members, the research team at Kirby Hall, who deal with
> enquiries from members relative to any of the information held by the
> Society, not I hasten to add that only available at other venues. All
done
> on a voluntary basis.
>
> Similar research assistance is in my experience provided by Lincs, Cambs,
> Suffolk and EoLFHS.
>
> Mark regularly points out the benefits of Norfolk FHS membership and there
> are over 4000 individual members who appreciate this. I believe that any
> person with serious interests in Norfolk is missing a lot if not a member.
>
> For someone with a limited interest only, a direct enquiry to NRO could be
> an alternative.
>
> The NFHS web site is maintained, plus seven subsidiary sites including the
> library catalogue, also the separate member's interests site, freely
> available to all.
>
> Not all can visit Kirby Hall, for myself it means a three day trip to
spend
> one day, but only by doing so is a person likely to appreciate the amount
> of work and cost that is entailed in running such a Society.
>
> Why should the benefit of such facilities and information be free. Is
it
> not reasonable that if over the cost of production or purchase of books,
> fiche and even CD's there is a margin to permit future expansion.
>
> ______________________________


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