Hello list, I spend 3-5 days a week at NYS Library and Archives. If there is one place on Earth, you want to spend some of your time, it is here. Every day I discover something new and I feel like a kid in a candy store and just haven't tasted of another new treat. This is one of the largest state libraries and archives in the US but our Archives is one of the youngest. As a taxpayer, I can complain about how my hard earned money has been spent but never when you find out what they have done. To say that NYS Library, Archives and Museum are greedy for anything they can obtain, is almost an understatement. BUT it is not just material and artifacts of NYS but from other places. We have quite a bit of material on other states so if you are researching ancestors from some other states, check out the catalog and see what is there. I know we have quite a bit of Civil War info for most other states. Everything is not located on the 7th floor genealogy library nor the 11th floor Archives. I am fascinated when I learn from the staff who are very knowledgeable and many have several fields of expertise and can direct you down many paths of information. As I get to know some of these people, I find that they are expert in botany, antiques, world history, etc. and participate greatly in activities within their communities. They don't fit the discription of "stuffy" if you know what I mean. Go to the NYS Library website <www.nysl.nysed.gov> and scroll down a little until you see Excelsior Catalog - Webcat Search Engine. Click on that. Use the Browse features and try combinations of things as well as single words. For instance, I found only 8 books for Hessians but when I put in American Revolution or Revolutionary War, there were a few hundred and within that list, descriptions brought up books that include Hessian information but that did not appear in the 8 books. Try many combinations to find your topics. By the way, for about $20-$25. you could probably get a microfilm copy of any family history or book that they have (about 500 pages). Some of the out-of-print or fragile books that were not to be copied can be done as they now have overhead scanners in the library that will not harm the books or bindings. This has opened up the use of the books. The NYS Newspaper Project has old NYS newspapers back to 1725. You would not believe how much I have found in the old papers. Newspapers in surrounding counties also have regular columns for areas of Saratoga County so you need to explore those just as thoroughly as you do Saratoga newspapers. These are also available for ILL too. The microfilm collection is enormous so you will have a lot to borrow if you check the catalog and follow directions on that site. Plan several days in this library if you are coming to NY as you cannot possibly get rolling for half a day, just familarizing yourself with the place. Our Heritage Hunters newsletters have regular articles on NYS Library and Archives. Get as much done before you get there. Have your list handy and DON'T start with census records. Your ancestors might be in a genealogy that is already done. God Bless Ruth Ann [email protected] ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.