The Chula Vista Public Library subscribed to Ancestry Library Edition (ALE) two years ago, and we in CVGS were ecstatic and thankful. Society members (and other library patrons) were able to use it to help people do research in our Computer Group meetings, at our Monday Table Talk sessions, and whenever someone needed to use it. ALE was on about 30 computers at the Civic Center Branch where we have our meetings, and I don't know how many at the other two branches.
The Library staff notified s last week that the Library would not renew the ALE subscription as a cost-cutting measure. apparently, several online database subscriptions will not be renewed in order to support higher priority items.
The Ancestry Library Edition database access at the Chula Vista Public Library branches will end on 31 July 2008. If you really need to use ALE, I encourage you to go to the library during the next two weeks!
We in CVGS are disappointed over this decision, but we understand the reasons behind it. We hope that the Library funding will be increased in coming years to permit subscribing to ALE again.
What are the other options for accessing Ancestry for CVGS members and other local researchers?
* The San Diego City and San Diego County Library systems have subscriptions to Ancestry Library Edition for FREE access. Bonita Library is the closest to Chula Vista in the County system.
* The San Diego Regional Family History Center in Mission Valley has Ancestry Institution available for FREE access at the Mission Valley site (4195 Camino del Rio South).
* The Borders Bookstore in Plaza Bonita has Ancestry on their computers for FREE access.
* Several CVGS members subscribe to Ancestry and might be able to help members with lookups.
During this exercise, we found out what the yearly subscription cost for ALE in our "small town" of over 200,000 was. Anyone want to guess?
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