This might be of interest to anyone researching in Florida... Lainee List Admin The following article is from Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2003 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.RootsForum.com. Update: Florida State Library Plan Sometimes we do hear good news. It is still a bit tentative, but Governor Jeb Bush's plan to transfer the State Library's circulating collection of 350,000 books and periodicals from the R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee to Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale may have hit an obstacle: the Florida State Senate's proposed budget doesn't provide any money to fund the plan. For background, read my earlier articles about Governor Bush's proposal at http://www.rootsforum.com/archives/news0305.htm, http://www.rootsforum.com/archives/news0307.htm, http://www.rootsforum.com/archives/news0308.htm and at http://www.rootsforum.com/archives/news0309.htm. Governor Bush's new budget proposal announced in February included the dismantling of the State library. The Governor proposed to pay $5 million to privately-owned Nova University through the next four years to move and maintain the collection and provide for an extension beyond 2007. Such a move, Bush claimed, would save the state $10.2 million during the next four years. Many groups, including genealogy societies, quickly pointed out that the figures were suspect. Serious legal questions also arise when the governor proposes moving state-owned property to a private corporation. Bush and Secretary of State Glenda Hood have described the circulating collection as being similar to any library's collection of books. After all, they have said, this is not the Florida Collection of priceless historical documents, which are to remain in Tallahassee. Nevertheless, it is still a state resource which should not be dismantled; say many other politicians and private citizens. To be sure, the bill in the Senate is not a final decision. The Senate proposal does not include the funds but the House's proposal earmarks $2 million for the transfer, still far less than what Governor Bush asked for. All of these are proposals and could change before the legislation gets passed. Stay tuned… _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus