This topic has tormented me. Starting in the 1950s Readex and AAS started the historical newspaper project which many historical libraries offered up unique copies of colonial newspapers in exchange for a copy of the resulting microfilm. Well. Now they have digitized it and are selling subscriptions to places such as universities for up to $80k per year while we are struggling to keep the lights on. Literally. Same potential situation with corps like Proquest who kindly "store" original microfilm negatives while their teams of corporate lawyers draw up new contracts with wiggly "digital rights" clauses. While my research doesn't implicate that we have "copyright" of the information, I believe we are entitled to a use fee for the image if we own the only known copy. I am not trying to stifle the utopian dream of free research access-- these companies are making big money off our materials while we have a trickle of funds to preserve the originals. I am at a loss at how to fight it. Phoebe Simpson, MLS Technical & Conservation Librarian * * * * * * * Rhode Island Historical Society Library 121 Hope Street Providence, Rhode Island 02906 T 401.273.8107 x24 F 401.791.7930 E [log in to unmask] * * * * * * * * * * * A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>