[or-roots] Ancestry.com

[Bev Reinhardt]

Although I've been a member of this list for years, I very seldom voice my opinions.  The conversation about Ancestry.com in Family History Centers just hit a nerve so to speak. 

I am a Director of a Family History Center and when I learned (via this list) that Ancestry was going to pull most of it's program from FHC's, my heart just dropped.  I have yet to receive any official word from the Church or Ancestry that this is to take place.  Although the information that Robert gave from a letter from Mr. Tim Sullivan seems to explain the situation pretty clearly.

As Pat said, Ancestry.com is not "part" of the LDS Church.  Although, as she said, the founders may have been members of the LDS Church.  And as Darlene said, the misunderstanding about the link of Ancestry to the FHL is based on personal opinions and misinformation.

We have many people (members of the LDS Church and nonmembers) that come to the Center to do research using Ancestry.  For the most part, they are people that cannot: 
1. Afford a subscription to Ancestry.
2. Cannot afford to travel to where the original source is, or
3. Cannot travel due to health concerns, etc.

I have the World Deluxe package from Ancestry.com at home, and yes it is expensive. The cost to Ancestry for making images, indexes, etc. available is certainly not cheap. However I balance this with what the cost would be if I had to travel to England, Germany, the eastern part of the US or even the cost of renting microfilm at a FHC. 

Thanks for listening and I really enjoy all the many and varied opinions on any number of subjects that come up on or-roots.  It's one of the best lists that I'm on.

Bev Reinhardt
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