tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340286122054555062.post4012601084943482538..comments2015-02-03T10:30:33.505-05:00Comments on vulnus sclopeticum: Why researchers matter - redux.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241009271059233486noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340286122054555062.post-46963236919999436772011-07-08T10:59:19.712-04:002011-07-08T10:59:19.712-04:00I know you may never speak to me ever again after ...I know you may never speak to me ever again after saying this, but I believe that corporations like Ancestry.com can be good for smaller institutions. Smaller institutions do not, in general, have alot of records. Having a subscription to Ancestry.com can be very useful to these institutions because it gives them ton of records within the space of a computer terminal. We need to remember that not everyone has the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to view the records that will eventually end up on Ancestry.com, especially if they only want to do a small amount of research. In this case, Ancestry.com can be very useful to institutions that pay for access. I've seen institutions charge upwards of 25 cents per page for copies and researchers who are willing to pay these fees. And since it is doubtful that Ancestry.com will ever come to every little genealogical library and archive in the country to scan their closet of records, Ancestry.com will probably never be much of a threat to most small institutions. <br />As far as help from the community is concerned, I believe that the main issue is relevance. Institutions must stay relevant to the community it serves or funding will disappear. A state government financial crisis may be out of the control of the institutions it funds. As a crisis looms, locals should support their institutions. But many do not realize this because they do not understand why museums and archives are important. Staying relevant is one of the primary functions of institutions. I have seen a museum in a village with a population of 100 get some sort of support from all 100 villagers because the museum remained relevant to their community. No institution can sit back and wait for community support without explaining why the community's heritage is so important to preserve in the first place. Support is always necessary, and it has to be from both inside and outside of the institution.Anne Musellanoreply@blogger.com