The following is from NGS:
We need your help to save the Arizona Genealogy Library in Phoenix! Please email our representatives as soon as possilbe, contact information listed below. The following is from the NGS blog (www.upfront.ngsgenealogy.org):
Access to one of Arizona's largest genealogical collections is being threatened in a move from the Arizona State Library in the Arizona State Capital to the Arizona State Archives, 1901 W. Madison, both in Phoenix, Arizona. In the email sent to the Family History Society of Arizona President, Ro Hein, from Laura Stone, Digital Content Director from the State Library, the following was mentioned:
"The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records is preparing to announce that the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building will house the genealogy research center. Researchers will now have access to a rich portfolio of resources, including unique Arizona materials, online genealogical sources and expert staff for support. The former location of state genealogy resources at the State Library of Arizona, located in the Historic Capitol Building, will close to the public on July 31."
There is a grave concern that the books, vertical file materials, periodicals, microfilm/microfiche materials and other physical items will NOT be moved to the Archives building, and that there will only be access to digital databases such as Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online. We do not know the reasoning behind this "immediate" move to the State Archives but we need to be vigilant and pro-active to stop this from occurring. What will happen to the 20,000+ genealogy books and materials presently housed in the Genealogical collection? We know that the State Archives does not have room to house all these materials.
We in the concerned genealogical community are very concerned about the future of the Arizona State Genealogy collections. We are asking all genealogists to take time out of their busy schedules to send an email to the Secretary of State Michele Reagan <www.azsos.gov/contact>, to the Arizona State Librarian Joan Clark <www.azlibrary.gov/about>, to Digital Content Director Laura Stone <lstone@azlibrary.gov, to the Arizona Governor Doug Ducey <http://azgovernor.gov/governor/form/contact-governor-ducey, your legislative representative and any other interested parties. In your email, share experiences you have had with the genealogical library staff, the connections to ancestors you have made through using the resources, and the outreach that has been offered by the genealogical staff for over thirty years. Share that the genealogical collection is a special collection that needs to be saved and not placed into boxes. Be polite, but firm in your message. And, in the email to Secretary of State Reagan and Governor Ducey, add the phrase, "Genealogists vote". Genealogists have a vested interest in keeping the State Genealogy collection where it is, and politicians want to be retained in office, so voting matters to them.
Please send your emails and letters to the above-mentioned people quickly. The move is supposed to take place this Friday, the 31st! We need to stop them.
Thank you for your support of the Arizona State Genealogy Library.
Linda Caldwell McCleary, M.L.S.
Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board (AzGAB) Past President
National Genealogical Society (NGS) Life Member
Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Past Board Member
FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee Member
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Former Director
Brigham Young University Professional Genealogy Certificate
