At the city council budget meeting, Chuck Sigerson, city councilman, challenged the library director, Rivkah Sass to build a national class genealogy library for Omaha. While the city needs to put their money where their mouth is and put more money into it as well, they can't do it alone. We need to help. Are there any books, CDs or microfilm you're done with and could donate? (If you find you need them later, you know where they are.) Did you know about the "$100 a year for 5 years" to adopt a state? (You can pick a county within that state if you want--or pick a specific ethnic group to focus on...as long as materials are available...and books, CDs and non-census microfilm will be purchased with your money.) Keep your eyes open at yard sales, etc for school yearbooks (any from anywhere), or genealogy materials. Some folks will be willing to let you have them if you tell them it's being donated for the public library. Even at the Friends book sale, we've found some treasures that SHOULD have been sent to 3rd floor, but weren't. (We're working on educating them about what should be saved & sent downtown.) G.O.G.S. has increased the census collection over the past 8 years so that it's about 53% of the total released censuses--31 states complete through 1900, and 13 through 1930. That too has come primarily through individual donations and fund raising, and it is getting exciting to see what's happening down there. Find the family on Ancestry or Heritage Quest, then go to the library and print out a LARGE copy of it, instead of 81/2 x 11. If you haven't been lately, go on down. If you hadn't heard, the library now has Heritage Quest on line, available through remote access for people who hold an Omaha library card (that's your home computer even in the middle of the night--with your library card & pin number.) You may need to go renew it, if you haven't done so in the last year--very simple process of showing something with your current address at the library. I'm also told that reciprocal library card holders (Council Bluffs & Lincoln) can also access HQ from home. WEDNESDAY night, 7:00 PM, 900 N 90th: Margie Sobotka will be speaking about her recent trip to Europe to do Czech research. For members, you want to be SURE to come, because there will be an important issue to vote on in the business meeting, but both the general meeting & the business meeting are open to everyone. This week we're at New Cassel Retirement Center, Next month we'll have a new address and a new home, because NC is doing some major renovations.