Google Public Records?

From Google's press office:

Google and Four US States Improve Public Access to Government Websites

Mountain View, Calif. - April 30, 2007 - Google Inc. today announced partnerships with the states of Arizona, California, Utah and Virginia to make it easier to search for hard-to-find public information on state government websites.

These partnerships developed as both Google and officials with the four state governments recognized that the public is increasingly turning to search engines like Google to access government services, but that a significant share of the information on state agency websites is not included in its index of information sources on the web. As a result, many online government services can be difficult for the public to find.

This is good news for genealogists and family history researchers. I've long advocated for more and easier access to information and we've highlighted those government offices that are the most advanced in providing access. Partnering with the folks who re-invented online search is a smart move.

*Full disclosure: My faculty colleague at Pacific McGeorge School of Law, Clark Kelso, is California's Chief Information Officer and was involved in this deal. I haven't talked to Clark about this matter.