NARA Proposes to Digitize Content in Cooperation with The Generations Network (Ancestry.com)
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is giving public notice of a proposal to enter into a non-exclusive agreement with The Generations Network, Inc. (TGN), owners of Ancestry.com, to digitize and further expand public access to archival holdings in NARA's custody. Please note: this is for a NON-EXCLUSIVE agreement and will not replace any of several other agreements with other companies that are already in place.
NARA is requesting comments about the terms of the proposed agreement. The public is invited to respond and all comments must be received by April 9, 2008.
Please go to http://www.archives.gov/comment/tgn-preamble.html for an overview of the draft agreement and a link to the agreement.
---> Why didn't NARA enter into an agreement with the LDS to digitize their records?
The data is public domain. By Federal law, the National Archives MUST cooperate with anyone who asks. The agency has a right to charge fees for duplication expenses, for the labor expended, etc., but they cannot refuse anyone. If the LDS Family History Department asks for the same information, I believe the answer will be "Yes."
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | April 22, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Many of us don't live anywhere close to a National Archives branch and even if we did, to copy all the records we want would be cost-prohibitive.
I support a partership with NARA to publish their records with any of the services I happen to subscribe to such as Ancestry, Footnote or World Family Tree.
It would make their records available for so many people that aren't able or can't afford to pay the cost involved in traveling to a NARA facility to obtain information.
The point is to get them online. It would be such a thrill to be able retrieve my ancestor's records quickly from my computer at home.
Posted by: Joyce C. Wicks | April 25, 2008 at 03:33 AM