[Genealib] Research Services and WVVRR

Fri Apr 24 17:25:01 EDT 2009

Message
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Susan Scouras 
  To: Librarians Serving Genealogists 
  Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:25 AM
  Subject: RE: [Genealib] Research Services and WVVRR

  We charge an upfront $15.00 fee for out-of-state research requests and $5.00 for in-state.  The basic fee covers up to 1/2 hour of staff research time and the first $2.50 in copy costs ($.25 for photocopies, $.50 for copies from microfilm, $2.50 fee for some state certificate copies, $1.50 fee for land grant copies).  We ask that requests be limited to two specific requests for records searches per letter.  Open-ended requests for "anything you have on my family," letters without a check or money order for the fee, and research beyond our scope are returned with an explanatory form letter. We are charging for our time, so the charge is the same whether it is for finding obits (we do not have any kind of obit file and have to search microfilmed newspapers), photocopying pages from a book, or searching vital records.  An SASE is welcome but not requested.  We invoice pro-rated additional fees for copy costs for requests that take more time or more copies than covered by the upfront payment.  

  We offer a lot of records through a free database* on our Web site, but many people still write to us because they do not have computer skills.  Some specifically request copies made from the microfilmed county records over the free digitized images, since the reader-printer copies can be enlarged more, etc.

  We have been very slow to raise any of our charges, primarily because the process to set and approve fees and policies in state government is very cumberous and time-consuming.  

  *West Virginia Vital Research Records, http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx.  The database contains county birth records (held back 100 years, so currently up through 1908), county death records (up to date of microfilming, 1967-70) and state death certificates (held back 50 years, so currently up to 1958).  Every January 1 the next eligible year of records is added.  We hope to have the remaining counties up by the end of this year.  The server is at capacity and struggling to meet demand during the busiest times, but is scheduled to be replaced.  If you get a "Records found" message but no records, try again, preferrably early in the morning.  We recommend reading the linked article about the database and about WV vital records before using the database for the first time.

  Susan Scouras
  Librarian
  WV Archives and History Library
  The Cultural Center
  1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
  Charleston, WV  25305-0300
  (304) 558-0230, Ext. 742

    -----Original Message-----
    From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu [mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Pam Cooper
    Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 9:44 AM
    To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
    Subject: [Genealib] Research Services

    Although I asked this last year, in these changing times, I would like to know once again if anyone is charging for research in their "public library." Research can be defined as look-ups, obituaries, making photocopies and looking for names from books, etc. I would especially like to hear from Florida libraries, but will accept everyone's response.

    Please tell me the fees, time willing to spend, and how many photocopies you provide.

    Are you charging for interlibrary loans?

    Did you recently make the decision to charge due to the economic downturn?

    Thanks.

    Pam

    Pamela J. Cooper, Supervisor 

    Archive Center & Genealogy Department

    Indian River County Main Library

    1600 21st Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

    772-770-5060 x4148 - Fax 772-770-5446

    Email: pcooper at irclibrary.org  

    Web Site: http://www.irclibrary.org/genealogy

    Please note: As of July 1, 2006, under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

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