This is addressed to the listers who live in New York. In recent days there has been a litany of complaints on the Westchester list about the costs and poor service provided by the State Archives in Albany. Over the past several months there have been similar complaints on the other NY lists to which I belong about the Albany, New York City and Brooklyn agencies. What those of us who do not live in New York do not understand is why do you who live there put up with this poor treatment from employees and agencies of your state and local government. You certainly pay some of the highest taxes in the country. Genealogists and family historians make up a large and rapidly growing contituency in every state. Some states (Colorado for instance) have developed expedited premium service that has been a new revenue stream for the state. In January a new session of the legislature will be meeting in Albany. If the several dozen genealogy societies in the state would start a letter writing campaign, pressure would be applied to the bureaucrats who run these agencies. Rootsweb listers from all over the US could provide you with very specific examples of the truly poor service that the these agencies provide. It's time that you are heard by those who can change the situation not just the sympathetic genealogy buffs on Rootsweb. Walt Jones Spokane WA