Today I was talking to Tom Heenan, head of the Hx Soc Science dept of which genealogy is a part. Donations (50 books last week--and they're being catalogued at present) are increasing, funding to purchase new items is not--at this point. A member of the city council has challenged the director of the library to build a national class genealogy library here in Omaha (but since far they haven't increased the funding with which to do it...I guess it's conjure it out of thin air?) What I would like to know is from those of you who can use the W. Dale Clark genealogy department because it's within a useable driving distance: what kinds of records would you like to see them focus on? We've had several suggestions: colonial records, immigration/naturalization, a set of specific states (like the Southeast US, or MidAtlantic states), or just what? The genealogy society is committed for at least the next couple years to work on census as it's major focus...we're within 58 reels of the primary 5 year goal (immediately surrounding states plus MN & OK complete through 1930--with only Hennepin and Ramsey left in MN, and the rest from 1920 & 1930 OK to complete through 1930.) And the second of the two goals: to get as much as possible of the US complete through 1900, we have the completing reels for 31 states here or on order, an additional 6 states complete through 1880. Of the remaining ones, only 2 states MD and CT do not have at LEAST one county complete through 1900, and most of them have several. That doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be YOUR counties though that are done. And we've got 13 states ordered or here complete through 1930, and another dozen or more states with one or more counties complete through 1930---again, they may not be YOUR counties of interest, but since census films are coming through donations, the purchaser gets to pick what gets purchased. While we'll continue to offer the match program through the society, whether the next five year goal is census film or not will be determined as we near the new five year milestone in about a year and a half. (You could always join the society if you want to have an input in the goal focus.) But since library funds are tax generated and public: what does the using public want? Doesn't mean that it will necessarily be chosen by popular vote, but user interest may have an influence. And if you live in Omaha, you might send a note to the city council rep from your district to ask for an increase in funding for the project...after all, they SAY they want to bring more people to Omaha, and the genealogy library in Ft. Wayne generates $10,000,000 a year in tourist dollars--and they aren't on the road to anywhere, like Omaha is! If you don't live in Omaha so that you would regularly use the collection, but would like a say--I'll create a separate list for your requests. Just tell me which list you belong on. Don't forget: if you have an active Omaha public library card, you can use it to access Heritage Quest on-line from your home computer. You can access it if you are from a reciprocating library as well--like Lincoln, or Council Bluffs, BUT my understanding is that you have to have an Omaha barcode sticker on your card. I'm not sure how to get around that...or if you can get an Omaha barcode number by mail or phone. And if you come in and have used it, be sure to mention at the main information desk that you use it and are glad to have it available. Positive feedback helps. Karen Author of Federal census helper & 365+1 Genealogy Tips