The discussion continues using material from " Researching in Germany ", by Minert and Riemer. In the previous discussion you were at the parish office but not finished with the day's research. When you do finish, offer your most sincere thanks for being allowed to do research there, whether you were successful or not. You may have been treated royally or miserably, but give the best thanks you can muster.
Ask what fees are expected. There may be an established scale, which might amount to five to ten dollars per day. If nothing is required, offer to make a donation to the parish. It would not be unusual to give $25 for a shorter visit up to $50 for an all-day visit. If the secretary works overtime to meet your needs, offer her, not the parish, ten to fifteen dollars per hour. The preferred mode of payment is Euro. If you have been royally treated, and stayed the full day, try to have a companion slip out before you leave and buy flowers.
Even though the office may have a photocopier, do not expect to be able to use it. First, there are many objections to photocopying books (it destroys them). So be prepared to type or hand write the information you desire.
In general: Be on your best behavior at all times. Smoke outside. Do not disturb the staff with your conversation. Do not eat or drink in the office. Lift and carry books as though they were newborn babies. Turn the pages slowly and with care. Do not "read" with a pencil or pen. Do not remove loose papers from books. Leave things as you found them. Remember others may be coming after you, and the parish office is under no compulsion to serve these oddball customers.
You should have established, before you visit the church, whether the church has records for public viewing. If the records do exist, but are not at the church, then they are probably at the regional church archives. Here they are probably on microfiche. In some cases, the books are in the church and the microfiche is at the archives.
At the archives, procedures are more formal than at the church. If you are planning to visit an archive, set up an appointment ahead of time. Facilities are often very limited and the demand is heavier. Without the appointment and documents supporting who you are, you may be denied admission. (See the earlier comments by Craig Kilby.)
At the archive, report to the archivist or the secretary. Show your correspondence, especially the letters establishing your appointment. You will probably be requested to register and perhaps even to show your passport to establish your identity. Then you will probably have to pay your daily fee (approximately five Euro per day). As is done here in America, you may be asked to check everything in a locker that you do not use for your research.
(26 Jan 02)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.