> The New York State Library has had it's share of budget cuts, retirement
"incentives", hiring freezes, >and some layoffs. When the press and the public
slams state workers you can let them know what an >excellent job you think the
library has done. You wouldn't think the the staff was "plentiful" if you had
to >do the scheduling for the genealogy desk.
Well, I can only repeat that my experiences at the N.Y. State Library were very
positive. If it is that good now, I can't imagine what it must have been like
before the cut-backs. It may be disappointing for those who knew it before, but
it is still a very fine facility, IMHO.
>You might not be aware of the books and periodicals we can't buy, the filming
we can't do, the
>protective housing we can't afford.<
No, I obviously can't know about that, Honor. But if I had to suggest
priorities for limited state funds, I think I would vote *first* for getting the
Health Dept. records into an accessible system, then the improvements you list
for the Library. Alas, the items "lacking" above are on the wish lists of
*many* libraries, including those without many attributes already found at the
NYS Library.
No doubt it could be better, but give thanks for what you have! :-)
Andrew Searle
Groton, Massachusetts
73712.3451@compuserve.com