Random acts of genealogical kindness

    While I hesitate to recommend a process I have not tried myself; because this free offer may not last, and because I have found Mocavo to be trustworthy, I want to be sure everyone gets the news about an offer for free scanning. That’s right, free scanning for genealogists.

    Mocavo began as an Internet search engine for genealogy only. I only use the free Mocavo services and I have gotten a lot of leads from it. Mocavo now also has a subscription data website and a very informative free e-newsletter. I admit I send out a silent groan when I see a newsletter has been delivered to my e-mail inbox, because I know it may take more of my time to read than it turns out to be worth. However, so far, I have always found something worthwhile in the Mocavo newsletter.

    I almost always find some link worth pursuing. Back in December I saw that they were offering free scanning but it was ending before I could let you all know about it. Thankfully, Mocavo has extended the offer so it’s time to let you know the pros and cons of the offer.

    First, scanning is like taking a picture or photocopy of your documents. As with any process, sometimes it’s wildly successful, sometimes not so much. The experiences of the person manning the scanner, and the quality of the machine have a huge impact. What Mocavo is offering is professional machines and operators, which greatly increases the likelihood of success. They are also offering to scan your books and papers and make them permanently publicly available online, and for you to download. They are not offering to pay for shipping in either direction, and they will only scan materials they consider historically significant.

    There is a lot for you to consider, so here are a few specifics. They will scan books, but must remove the binding! They will scan your standard-sized paper personal trees and research documents and notes. They cannot currently scan: photographs, moldy or damaged documents, copyrighted materials, small or over-large pieces of paper, bound books, or, old newspapers or clippings.

    You need to decide if what you have is too valuable, irreplaceable or too delicate to take a chance shipping it, and then insure it accordingly, but Mocavo has already thought of this and offers some good advice about shipping considerations. One example they used is that if you have a rare and delicate copy of the Declaration of Independence, you may not want to take a chance; you may just want to sell it for millions of dollars instead. (Yes please!)

    There is more information on the Mocavo website, just click on the “Free Scanning” link on the left side of the home page: www.mocavo.com

    Mocavo is making this offer available because they realize that some of the most valuable genealogical material is locked on bookshelves all over America and this may be the only way some of it will see the light of day for the rest of us, as well as for future generations. I think this is a great way to “pay forward” random acts of genealogical kindness.

    Editor’s note: Nina G. Brawn has lived in the Dover-Foxcroft area for over 50 years and currently lives there with her husband Fred. Nina was the last of 10 children, has three children of her own and nine grandchildren. She can be reached online at ninagbrawn@gmail.com.