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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2000-02 > 0950519242


From: "Barbara Prowse" <>
Subject: Re: STAIRS
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 09:07:22 -0000


Dear Andre
Sense prevails again! We all seem, whatever our homeland, to belong to a
culture of "I want it free, and I want it NOW". Genealogy is not a free
hobby, and it isn't our "right" to have access to every bit of information.
It's exciting when we do find information and slot it in. But sometimes
that's only by hard graft. Of course it's frustrating to know there's stuff
available but you're not in the right Country to look for yourself. And then
I, for one, am very grateful for pointers from other people on the Lists I
join. And sometimes actual information, which gives me a leap forward I
didn't expect. And the people on the South Africa List are brilliant in
their generosity.

The demo we've been given is good, but limited. Just as the British Vital
Records [CD-ROM] is good, but limited. Everything is. Including the IGI [I
have already discovered two glaring errors in the South Africa info': one
married after she was probably dead, and one couple before they were born]
And some will find a vital link, and most of us won't find anything
relevant, and then some will complain it wasn't worth bothering with.

Here, I live not too far from London, and apart from time restrictions, I
have access to such a lot of different primary sources. But I still have to
rent in films from the LDS if I want parish records from Devon, for example.
I think it's reasonable if I want one piece of information to ask someone on
the Devon List who might live there, if they can look it up. But then, as
with GISA, if I'm just one of even 100 people who ask for help in that way
it actually becomes unreasonable. Often all the information one needs is,
"this is the source you need. Here's how you get access." My gallstones
won't be found on any List, but will be in the family tree box.

We had the STAIRS/Copyright arguments less than a year ago when I was first
on the List, including all the "nasty bits". It seems to me that we're going
round in circles. Because when the chips are down, how many people are going
to volunteer to do anything? No, we're either out of the Country or too busy
doing our own thing.

So, thanks to all who make information accessible. But let's get real. Now
I'm going to "hit the delete button".
Best wishes
Barbara

Researching
London, Eng: Butlin, Hanger, Keenes, Webber
Beds, Eng: Hanger. Cornwall, Eng: Hodgson
South Africa: FERREIRA, HANGER, HODGSON, POTGIETER, WEBBER

----- Original Message -----
From: van Rensburg <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2000 10:21 PM
Subject: Re: STAIRS


> Good Morning Listers,
> I want to thank so many people for the overwhelming support we have
received with the "demo", of what can be done. Thank you also for the one or
two who are expressing some concerns.
> So let us get things into perspective, we have only placed a fraction of a
fraction of material on the "demo".
> You take the PEGISIS data bank that GISA has, this data bank alone has the
information of over 400,000 persons. How do you expect them with the lack of
resources and skills to make this data bank available on the internet? They
wish they could but they don't have the resources, staff, skills or time, so
stop criticising them.
> I regret to inform you that National Archives Repositories are no
> longer either in a position to undertake research on behalf of members
> of the public, or mandated to do so.
>
> The National Archives Repositories have always prided themselves on
> providing an efficient and comprehensive response to written
> enquireis. However, the past few years have seen a significant
> increase in such enquiries, without a corresponding increase in staff.

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