New York State Library - Please Seek STATE Funds for ProQuest/HeritageQuest REMOTE Access Databases

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    Janet Welch, New York State Librarian & Assistant Commissioner for Libraries, New York State Library, Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
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Whereas ProQuest has recently announced they will be eliminating remote, in-home access to the members of genealogical and historical societies, and

Whereas ProQuest is the company that provides HeritageQuest Online, a collection of online databases that contain images of original U.S. census records, Revolutionary War pension applications, more than 20,000 local and family history books, Freedman's Bank records, and on-line REMOTE access to Historical Newspapers, including but not limited to, the New York Times Historical Newspapers 1851-2003, and

Whereas many smaller local Libraries have found it cost-prohibitive to offer access to ProQuest New York Times Historical Newspapers 1851-2003 either in the Library or by REMOTE internet access, and

Whereas, numerous other United States STATE libraries offer REMOTE in home access to HeritageQuest Online, a collection of online databases that contain images of original U.S. census records, Revolutionary War pension applications, more than 20,000 local and family history books, Freedman's Bank records, and Historical Newspapers, including but not limited to, the New York Times Historical Newspapers 1851-2003, and

Whereas, we the undersigned, members of the New York Historical and Genealogical community are now denied REMOTE in-home access to the aforementioned databases via our membership to various genealogical & historical societies, and

Whereas, we the undersigned are further denied this access because many of our smaller local libraries which we also support with our local tax dollars, find it cost prohibitive to offer some or all of these services in the Library and/or REMOTELY to their patrons, and

Whereas we are citizens of the State of New York seeking to preserve New York State History, Local History and Family History in our local communities, and

Whereas, we the undersigned, often find it nearly impossible and cost prohibitive to travel to Albany or New York City from far distant points within the State of New York to conduct in-library research, and

Whereas, the State of New York is very adept at passing down unfunded mandates to municipalities which is one of the reasons our local taxes are unbearable to a point of nearly forcing many out of their homes and the state, and

Whereas, often local funding to local libraries is cut, or is not nearly as generous as it should be, as a result of state mandates which then puts more of a tax burden on the local taxpayer via library district taxes, and

Whereas, If we want our libraries to keep running and offering up-to-date services we have to pass the budgets they present in our already overburdened state of tax liability, and

Whereas, it would seem that it would be more cost effective for all NY local libraries to refer their patrons to the STATE Library by obtaining a State Library Borrower Card to obtain access to these databases either in-library or remotely, and

Whereas, it would also seem that the STATE Library would be able to obtain a more cost effective contract with ProQuest/HeritageQuest than the smaller local libraries.

Now therefore be it resolved by the undersigned that they believe if the State of New York were to provide in-library and REMOTE Access to HeritageQuest and ProQuest Historical NY Times 1851-2003 through the STATE Library - it would be a way for the State to support the Historical and Genealogical Community as well as taxpayers Statewide, and

Be it further resolved, by the undersigned that we respectfully request and would greatly appreciate your investigating all means by which STATE FUNDING can be utilized to provide holders of valid New York State Public Library Cards with REMOTE on-line internet access to HeritageQuest Online, a collection of online databases including original U.S. census records, Revolutionary War pension applications, more than 20,000 local and family history books, Freedman's Bank records, AND ProQuest Historical Newspapers, including the New York Times Historical Newspapers 1851-2003.

679 Signatures

  • Linda W
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Plymouth, Chenango
    • Zip Code
    • 13832
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/2006
    • Comments
    • I'm a PA resident with ancesters from Beaver Meadow. I'm interested in the out-of-state usage fee
  • Debra K
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Ithaca, New York
    • Zip Code
    • 14850
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Hugh N
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Schenectady, Schenectady
    • Zip Code
    • 12308
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Joseph H. S
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Dutchess
    • Zip Code
    • 12538
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Carolyn M. S
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Kinderhook, Columbia
    • Zip Code
    • 12106
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Robert J A
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • New Hartford; Oneida county
    • Zip Code
    • 13413
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/2006
    • Comments
    • В
  • mary ann l
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • kingston
    • Zip Code
    • 12401
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Dawn H. B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Attica, Wyoming Co.
    • Zip Code
    • 14011
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Lois P
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Whitestone, Queens County
    • Zip Code
    • 11357
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 08/01/2006
    • Comments
    • please!!!
  • Betty Hadley W
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Westport , Essex, NY
    • Zip Code
    • 12993
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Julie B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Attica, NY Wyoming County
    • Zip Code
    • 14011
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • christine s
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Peekskill, Westchester
    • Zip Code
    • 10566
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
    • Comments
    • please please!!!!
  • Nancy N
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Snyder Erie Co. NY
    • Zip Code
    • 14226
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
    • Comments
    • В
  • Marilynn J. V
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Watertown, Jefferson Co. NY
    • Zip Code
    • 13601
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Gretchen M. G
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Cortland, Cortland
    • Zip Code
    • 13045
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 1 August 2006
  • B. W
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Casper, WY
    • Zip Code
    • 82601
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 1 Aug 2006
    • Comments
    • I am willing to pay a fee for remote access to the ProQuest Historical Newspapers collection.
  • R. Scott B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Latham / Albany
    • Zip Code
    • 12110
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • Mary Angela B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Pine Bush Orange
    • Zip Code
    • 12566
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • Deborah G
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • New York City, New York Co.
    • Zip Code
    • 10025
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • Lynda P
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Dingmans Ferry PA
    • Zip Code
    • 18328
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • Stephen B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • East Bloomfield, Ontario County
    • Zip Code
    • 14469
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
    • Comments
    • While I have access to Census data through Ancestry.com, I am concerned that there are many in our state who cannot afford a paid subscription. Please consider this service.
  • EdnaServos
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Massey ontario
    • Zip Code
    • p0p1p0
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • edna servos
    • Comments
    • willing to buy a library card as all my ancestsors came from St. Lawrence county for over 200 years
  • Patricia W
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Cornwall , Orange County, New York
    • Zip Code
    • 12518
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Nancy O A
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Ilion, Herkimer Co, NY
    • Zip Code
    • 13357
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • Karen E. G
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Kingston, Ulster
    • Zip Code
    • 12401
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Kathleen S. D
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Cayuga, Cayuga
    • Zip Code
    • 13034
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • James D
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Cayuga, Cayuga
    • Zip Code
    • 13034
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 4, 2006
  • Barrie L. F
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Cayuga
    • Zip Code
    • 13034-2113
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 08-01-2006
  • James W. M
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • New York City (Manhattan), New York
    • Zip Code
    • 10025-3055
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
    • Comments
    • I am an 81-yr old, arthritic, NYS Librarian retiree
  • Anita L
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Irvington, Westchester county
    • Zip Code
    • 10533
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Leslie C
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • New York, New York County
    • Zip Code
    • 10128
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/2006
  • Mellony C
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Montezuma , Cayuga Co
    • Zip Code
    • 13117
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1
  • Edward D. L
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Auburn, Cayuga County
    • Zip Code
    • 13021
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • jean e
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Camillus, NY
    • Zip Code
    • 13031
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
    • Comments
    • Open it to all NY state residents who have a library card from a NY state library
  • Gerard S
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Auburn-Cayuga
    • Zip Code
    • 13021
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8-1-06
  • victor n
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • weedsport,ny
    • Zip Code
    • 13166
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 08 01 2006
    • Comments
    • we searchers need this site for family searches
  • Jane M
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Plattsburgh, Clinton County
    • Zip Code
    • 12901
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
    • Comments
    • Please do all you can to provide remote access to these databases.
  • Eileen Z
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Rochester, Monroe County
    • Zip Code
    • 14624
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1,2006
  • Caroline R
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • New York, New York
    • Zip Code
    • 10009
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/2006
    • Comments
    • This is an educational resource available to residents of other states. It only seems reasonable that NYS provide its residents with such a valuable research tool.
  • brenda s
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Crystal River, Fl
    • Zip Code
    • 34429
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • Aug 1, 2006
    • Comments
    • I would be more than glad to pay for access to this information as all my husband's ancestors came thru New York State
  • Kent W. N
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Putnam Station
    • Zip Code
    • 12861
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 08/01/06
    • Comments
    • they have taken to much away allready
  • Lois W
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Syosset, Nassau County
    • Zip Code
    • 11791
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Hilda B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Aurora
    • Zip Code
    • 13026
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
  • Jennifer A B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Apalachin, Tioga county
    • Zip Code
    • 13732
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8-1-2006
    • Comments
    • I would even pay a fee for remote access to this service if it were only available.
  • Keith C
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Liverpool,Onondaga
    • Zip Code
    • 13088
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1,2006
    • Comments
    • This would make things easier.
  • Katherine C
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Brooklyn
    • Zip Code
    • 11222
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/2006
  • NANCY B B
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • ATTICA N.Y. WYM.
    • Zip Code
    • 14011
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 08-01-06
  • Dennis A
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Ilion - Herkimer Co.
    • Zip Code
    • 13357
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8/1/06
  • Gary
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Weedsport, Cayuga County
    • Zip Code
    • 13166
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • August 1, 2006
    • Comments
    • As a Funeral Director I understand the importance of free geniological research. I have helped hundreds of people with research and basically, research should be as free as we are. Er go, Fredom of information that is why the "free" is in Freedom. Enough said.
  • Mary Anne M
    • City, & NY County of Residence
    • Catawissa, Pennsylvania
    • Zip Code
    • 17820
    • Date I am Signing this Petition
    • 8-1-2006