Hello Richard I know that Orange family history group has been absorbed by the local council library and it may well happen to other groups who are struggling for membership and therefore financial viability under the onslaught of online resources. I think their will still be a place for family history & historical societies to operate. By remaining independent, with assistance and not interference, we are free to research what we see as important and not necessarily what the governing body sees as important. As an independent body we are able to create research resources that most libraries etc. do not have the time or finance to do. What most groups need is a place to store and function from at a reasonable cost. I know that that may sound selfish and self serving but we do really benefit the community by research and recording various types of history (family, social, built etc.) at very reasonable cost to the community. Museums on the other hand should most definitely be a shared community, local government and state government responsibility. The requirements for housing museum pieces, archiving, cataloguing etc requires expertise and large sums of money. I do think that the return to the community is excellent value for money in terms of retained items of historical importance, community identity etc. and if managed correctly should be able to generate a financial income to assist in its running. If the new art gallery can do it why not a museum in a town with loads of history??? Ann Campbell President Maitland Family History Circle Inc. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausmfhc/ [email protected]/au -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of drew gerard Sent: Thursday, 17 September 2009 1:58 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HV] AUS-NSW-HUNTER-VALLEY Digest, Vol 4, Issue 194 Hello Ann   Thanks for the information about the Gresford Historical Society.  I sent an email to Barbara Merriman.    On the general subject of new museums, and I know this sounds like a fantastical wish list, I can see a day when the sheer bulk of materials and documents being currectly collected by historical societies and museums will no longer be able to be housed and managed with the current system of fees and donations.  The government will one day have to take over at least part of the management of collections being made by baby boomers, provide funding and pay for their housing as a part of the public library system, or elsewhere.  Apart from digital media, the paper records will just become too bulky and will need to be preserved -and baby boomers make good lobby groups.  One result of public ownership will be more research facitilies and easier access to records.  That's my view, anyhow.  I know it sounds like science fiction..   Regards   Richard       Hello Richard There is a Gresford Historical Society.  Try Barbara Merriman [email protected] Ann ____________________________________________________________________________ ______ Get more done like never before with Yahoo!7 Mail. Learn more: http://au.overview.mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message