“Copies of the New York State Library’s master microfilm may be requested through Reference Services." http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/all/442.htm#Troy http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/all/442.htm#Lansingburgh Duplicating microfilm reels they have might be worth exploring for a couple reasons: The NYSL has many newspapers the Troy Public Library doesn’t have at all like the Democratic Analyzer, Labor Advocate, Lansingburgh Times, Troy American, Troy freie presse, etc. (also other Rensselaer County newspapers, which it would be nice if the Troy Public Library also had given that Troy’s the county seat) A copy could be loaned to http://fultonhistory.com/ to scan and render searchable, which he’ll do for free Apparently they only duplicate reels for which they have a master - it can cost $40 or $50 from them to duplicate one. http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/library/policy/photdupch.htm In cases where they don’t have the master, possibly they might know who would. In some cases they only have paper originals, and a number of those have gone missing (thank the NYS Legislature for continually cutting staffing and funding for the State Library, Archives & Museum…). In some cases where they only have paper copies they’re very short runs or single issues. For the Troy Statesman, for example, they have 1833:1:8 only. It might be a worthwhile project to scan those using the State Library’s overhead scanners or to take digital photos of all the pages. Aside from ensuring there’s a copy in event the original ever goes missing, those scans or photos could then be rendered searchable. That could be useful for original newspapers the Troy Public Library owns that aren’t on microfilm as well, and there seem to be a number of those. The NYS Newspaper Project indicated the TPL had the Troy Weekly Telegram on paper only, 1882:7:4-1883:12:25. Given that some of the TPL’s scrapbooks have gone missing, it’s quite possible some of their newspapers ! have as well - once again a good reason to copy them while that’s possible. Chris