[Genealib] policies on copies...

[Larry Naukam]

We have learned through hard experience that we had to set specific limits
and prices. Rochester PL has the following practices:

1. All fees are set by the boards of trustees, not by the library or the
librarians.

2. Local libraries (we are the central city in a populous county) can do
whatever they please. They are affiliated but no subject to our decisions

3. We don't do research per se, except as part of an email or letter
request. We will allow 10 to 15 minutes for such a request, and then we
report back what we found. We are not genealogists, and do not "certify" or
searches; rather we make a best guess and let the patron know that

4. We have a list of researchers who have asked to be put on that list. We
do not have an evaluation or test that we give them. Only a couple times in
30 years have we had a problem, and it was resolved by asking the searcher
for hire if they minded that we were dropping them off the list. There was
no problem that way.

5. We will honor multiple obits requests, but in this way: if we have to
look them up unindexed, we will do up to 4 at once. Ten bucks a piece.

6. Anything that is in the life records database
(http://monroecounty.entrexp.com/liferecords/index.asp?sessionid=&body=recor
ds&section=selType&tempId=&title=Search%20Records) MUST be ordered through
it. No exceptions. 10 dollars a copy.

7. Some items appear in the 1818-1903 newspaper indexes. Same deal (it's not
online yet). 10 bucks a copy.

8. We can provide these copies on paper or digitally. We don't fax out, or
have a rush service.

9. We can provide copies of pictures through the Rochester Images web site
(http://www2.libraryweb.org/index.asp?orgid=91&storyTypeID=&sid=&). That
being said, only 1/4 of our picture collection is in there. We can
technically email items, but usually they are sent on a CD.  We do not allow
photocopies of the pictures. We do allow someone to use a digital camera to
take such pictures. We also have an approved outsider who can make prints
(this was "told" to us, we did not have any say in the choice).

10. There are tight legal restrictions on items belonging to the Rochester
Historical Society, which are and have been on deposit since 1936 at the
library. They cannot be duplicated in any way (by us or the user). Users
must go through the RHS for copies and permissions.

Any questions, please feel free to contact me.