Thud!

Thud – that’s the sound of the other shoe falling from the recent FamilySearch/Ancestry.com agreement, which I posted about here. Dick Eastman has posted a letter on his Genealogy Newsletter written by the folks at Family Search, which says, and I am summarizing here: Indexes will remain free, while images may not. As for images: 

Where possible, FamilySearch will seek to provide free public access to digital images of original records. Due to affiliate obligations, free access to some images may be available only to FamilySearch members (volunteers and indexers who meet basic contribution requirements each quarter, patrons at Family History Centers, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who’s contributions support FamilySearch’s operations). FamilySearch members will also enjoy convenient access in their homes or wherever they have Internet access. (FamilySearch is currently developing its ability to verify that users are FamilySearch members for future home access. This expanded access should be enabled in 2009.) For all the details, check out Dick’s online newsletter. Stay Tuned for more developments!

© 29 July 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder