charging for copies

Rebecca Anglesey

Since I started at the Family History Center a couple years ago we have charged $.05 for each page printed on our machine. I have been collecting this money. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it. Can I have some direction on this? Also, is it really necessary? The Family History Center Guild suggests that we "may" charge. Who makes the decision if we charge or not? I personally dislike charging. It is awkward, especially when the missionaries are printing baptism programs. I don't want to charge the missionaries and I hate charging the youth who come in to print there temple name cards. Can I just turn the money I've collected in to someone and then stop charging altogether?......Is there a better place to ask these questions? 

N Tychonievich

@Rebecca Anglesey The help center article:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/charging-patrons-at-a-family-history-center-in-north-america

From this you can see that the decision is made in consultation with your high councilor. Another article that might be helpful as far as handling the money you have already collected:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/handling-money-in-a-family-history-center

Rebecca Anglesey

Thank you so much!

Jaelene Starr

In answer if there is a better place to ask your question, I would recommend these two groups to you:

Family History Center Consultants - questions more specific for directors of a FHC

FamilySearch Center Tech Support- all things dealing with FHC technology.

You may wish to join the monthly zoom meetings for Family History Center directors:

The 1st Wednesday of each month with matters dealing with technology

The 3rd Wednesday with other FHC management topics

The links for these zoom meetings can be found in the group FamilySearch Center Tech Support

That said, charging for copies are a local decision, as said. Since the center I manage has its own building (not in a ward building) then free copies for all would be a big problem as it would come out of our budget. Our budget purchases the toner and paper, etc. We do not charge for the printing of temple ordinance cards.

DanaChou

In my area the cost of copies in a chapel FHC is borne by the FHC, which has its own unit number and budget within the stake. Wards in the building pay nothing toward FHC operating costs. Our center hasn't needed to charge for copies. Hoping to stay that way I definitely discourage non-FHC printing. Our budget is small and the wards have a computer and photocopier for their needs.

Rebecca Anglesey

Thank you so much!