OK that IS a larger issue. Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Wagner" <jennybear2@earthlink.net> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 2:58 PM Subject: Re: California closures BUSH ACT Vital to all genealogists > Don, > > FindUSA recently dropped Godfrey Memorial Library and other public > libraries because of privacy issues. HeritageQuest is still available to > current subscribers of Godfrey Memorial Library until their subscriptions > expire or the end of 2006, whichever comes earlier. New subscribers to > Godfrey do not have access to HeritageQuest. According to email letters > sent from the Director, HeritageQuest would not renew their agreement with > Godfrey regardless of the price. He didn't explain the reason. > > Linda > > >> [Original Message] >> From: Don Kelly <ocollaugh@comcast.net> >> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> >> Date: 2/28/2006 2:28:37 PM >> Subject: Re: California closures BUSH ACT Vital to all genealogists >> >> http://www.heritagequest.com/ Heritage Quest is still up at this site. > How >> is it (in what way) closed to the public? >> Don >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Linda Wagner" <jennybear2@earthlink.net> >> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 1:40 PM >> Subject: RE: California closures BUSH ACT Vital to all genealogists >> >> >> > Godfrey Memorial Library's recent loss of HeritageQuest and FindUSA may > be >> > another example of how records are beginning to be closed to the >> > public. >> > We had better get what we can now, before it is too late! >> > >> > Linda Wagner >> > Aptos >> > >> >> [Original Message] >> >> From: <perrin@garlic.com> >> >> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> >> >> Date: 2/28/2006 1:00:26 PM >> >> Subject: California closures BUSH ACT Vital to all genealogists >> >> >> >> As a California resident who has had records closed in the past 24 >> >> months, >> >> this is a big deal! >> >> >> >> At one time I could view the death certificate index for Santa Clara >> >> County without restriction...allowing me to help MANY genealogists all >> >> over the country...even the world. Using the index I could find > records >> >> for folks who only had limited information about their 'brick wall'. >> >> Folks would give me a last name and possible first name and using the >> >> index I could see if that person died in Santa Clara County...then >> >> actually VIEW the death certificate and either confirm for the person >> >> asking whether it was who they were looking for or not. I even did >> >> transcriptions for lots of folks. The same was possible for marriage >> >> certificates. Births were more difficult...and I didn't have a >> >> problem >> >> with that since THAT'S where identity theft usually occurs...you had >> >> to >> >> have the full name of the child and the mother's maiden name. >> >> >> >> I can still access death certs BUT NOT the index. So you have to have >> >> all >> >> the information you might be looking for to be able to have the death >> >> cert >> >> 'pop up' on the computer! This certainly doesn't help folks who are >> >> looking for that elusive uncle that left NY State for the Gold Fields > of >> >> California and ended up in Santa Clara County!! >> >> >> >> In California there is no time limit...so the death index for folks >> >> who >> >> DIED in 1908 is still closed! Amazing but true! >> >> >> >> The posting by SusiCP IS in my opinion something that all of us as >> >> genealogists should be concerned about...just because the information >> >> came >> >> from a left leaning publication shouldn't close our minds to the very >> >> real >> >> possibility that information we and our ancestors have freely given > will >> >> not be available for our descendents! >> >> >> >> Identity theft is a very real concern, but let's punish those who do > the >> >> crime...NOT those of us who want to learn about our ancestors and >> >> document >> >> appropriately! >> >> >> >> Perrin >> >> >> >> >> >> > As an unbiased reader, the information that SusiCP posted pertains >> >> > to >> >> > genealogy and the potential threat to acquiring genealogical > records, >> >> > in >> >> > various >> >> > parts of the country. >> >> > >> >> > Author Terry J. Allen's tone is slanted against the present >> >> > federal administration; this does not infer that SusiCP agrees with >> >> > Allen's >> >> > predisposition. >> >> > >> >> > Privacy changes are being considered by the federal administration, > led >> > by >> >> > the present Commander in Chief, no matter what his political >> >> > affiliation >> >> > or name >> >> > is. Whatever changes evolve, the present national leaders are >> > responsible >> >> > for them. >> >> > It's as simple as that. >> >> > >> >> > It's amazing that folks impulsively start name calling and drawing >> >> > lines >> >> > over >> >> > this, when our social security numbers have been required for the > most >> >> > inane >> >> > reasons, and people cooperate in revealing theirs. >> >> > >> >> > It doesn't matter if you are one of those "blue folks" or one of > those >> >> > "red >> >> > folks," as the media divisively labeled us in the recent >> >> > presidential >> >> > election, >> >> > it isn't time to play the McCoys versus the Hatfields online. >> >> > >> >> > How about some common sense and manners here? >> >> > Barbara >> >> > [no personal responses necessary] >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > In a message dated 2/27/2006 11:38:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, >> >> > SusiCP@aol.com writes: >> >> > >> >> >> http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2488 >> >> >> >> >> >> Please become aware of what is about to happen if we don't wake up. >> >> >> >> >> >> SusiCP >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== >> >> Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? >> >> Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web >> >> page: >> >> http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.txt >> >> >> > >> > >> > >> > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== >> > Visit the GEN-NYS-L web page: >> > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/ >> > >> > >> >> >> ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== >> Have you seen the GEN-NYS-L mailing list archives? >> http://archiver.rootsweb.com/GEN-NYS-L/ >> > > > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? > Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.txt > >