At Monday, 08 March 2004, "Sue Christensen-Nass" <genealogyhome@hotmail. com> wrote: >Thanks for that info re: Godfrey Library. Apparently both CGS and the >Library offer the same access to records. However, only CT. Gen. Soc. gives >you a card that permits you to actually get into the Vital Records in many >towns/cities in Connecticut, especially the New Haven Vital Records. The >state law was written so that only members of a recognized Connecticut >genealogical society can have access to the actual records. As a member, >you also get a quarterly book with lots of genealogical information. >Therefore, the cost of a membership to CGS has more "perks". >Thanks again, >Sue Nass >CT Gen. Soc. > Hi Sue. I am all for joining CSG...but the comparison between the Godfrey's online holdings and CSG is not the same and CSG is not the "only" group to offer the "card". Genealogists are welcome to join the Friends of the Godfrey Library ($15/year) and obtain an authorized card or join the Connecticut Ancestry Society (Stamford); Middlesex Genealogical Society (Darien); etc. Each of them have quarterlies and/or newsletters. There are 12 such recognized societies in the State. For a complete list see: the CT State Library's website: http://www.cslib.org/genesoc.htm CSG offers HeritageQuest online to its members. This service is also offered free to all CT residents from their public libraries. By using their local library card we can read it 24/7 from home. The Godfrey also offers HQ Online along with extensive online holdings that go well beyond HeritageQuest Online Online access: to 24+ full-text newspapers ... complete NY Times; LA Times; Washington Post etc. everyword searchable Complete Griffiths Valuation; Irish Ordance Survey maps and 100 other Irish databases... African-American Biographical Dictionary (over 800+) full-text books If a reseacher simply wants access to the vital records they can get the Friends of the Godfey Library card ($15/year) which is one of the many societies recognized by the State for vital record access. It's a great day to do genealogy and its wonderful to have so many groups, journals, and online resources ... all working together to make it easier for all of us to climb our family trees. Tom Thomas Jay Kemp Godfrey Memorial Library 134 Newfield Street Middletown, CT 06457-2534 Phone: 860-346-4375 Fax: 860-347-9874 Email: TKemp@Godfrey.org Web site: http://www.godfrey.org