FUNDS SOUGHT FOR IMPORTANT DATABASE
(Please be aware this post was written in 2004 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
Funding of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission was cut deeply during last year’s legislative season. Consequently, TexShare grants have suffered greatly and TSL has begun a pledge drive to retain Heritage Quest as one of the databases in the 2004-2005 TexShare database repetoire.
Sponsored by the TSL TexShare is a rich collection of digital knowledge databases available to over 700 participating academic, public and clinical medicine libraries located across the state of Texas. One of those databases is Heritage Quest. HQ is a major genealogical and historical database available only on the Internet through library subscription. It is not available to individuals by private subscription.
HQ subscriptions currently contain three important rich in genealogical and historical information databases. The first contains the complete United States Census and corresponding index, 1790 through 1930. The second contains Proquest’s Genealogy and Local History Collection which consists of over 25,000 digitally scanned family and local history books each of which is every word searchable. The third is PERSI, a comprehensive subject and name index covering thousands of United States and Canadian genealogical periodicals published since the early 1800’s. Included with any newly negotiated database will be the Sanborn Insurance Map Collection.
In the near future ProQuest Newspaper Obituaries, the Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files and the Freedman’s Bank Records are anticipated to be added to the HQ databases.
The cost to TexShare for the HQ databases next fiscal year is $243,000. The TSL does not have the funds for HQ and is asking libraies across the state to contribute funds to cover the subscription. Estimated library subscription pledges are based on population and range from $500 for a town with a population of less than 10,000 people to $35,000 for cities with more than 1.5 Million people. Obviously Houston’s suggested contribution would be $35,000.
Not only is the TSL short of funds, so are the coffers of other libraries, including the Houston Public Library. With this in mind individuals and organizations are being asked to help by contributing to the Heritage Quest pledge drive. Contributions should be funneled through a TexShare stakeholder library usually one’s local public library. In Houston contributions should be made through the Houston Public Library’s Houston Library Board which will coordinate contributions. For additional information about donating to the Houston Library Board, contact Caroline Reeder at caroline.reeder@cityofhouston.net or by telephone at 832-393-1368.
Time is of the essence. The HQ pledge drive has a deadline of May 1. If the monetary goal is not met the HQ databases will be converted to TexSelect whereby the databases will be available only to those libraries willing to pay to subscribe. Under the TexSelect method subscription prices will be higher than under the consortium negotiated reduced method used with TexShare.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS HOLD KEY TO RESEARCH
Trevia Wooster Beverly will offer a class, Do Your Ancestors Lurk in One of These Special Collections?. The class will be conducted Saturday April 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Leisure Learning’s 2990 Richmond Avenue campus. Pre-registration is required.
Some of the collections discussed in the class will be the Robert.B. Blake Collection, the Draper Papers, the Shane Manuscripts, the Panton-Leslie Papers, the Natchez Trace Collection, the American State Papers, the U.S. Serial Set, NUMUC, the Hollingsworth and McCubbins collections and PERSI.
Researchers who do not know what these collections are or have not used any or all of them should attend this class. Tuition for the class is $40 plus $10 for a materials handbook. To register or learn more about the class contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414.
