The information you will find in the index is Name of individual - usually alphabetical by year, except for a few years when sounded filing was used, date of the event, place of the event, and the VR Record #. You can choose to order the certificates, but you can also take the information from the index and go down to the 7th floor (NY State Library) and request the newspaper microfilms. Often you will be able to find obituaries and/or marriage notices published in the old newspapers. The NY State Library website has a list of their newspaper holdings, by city or county, including dates available. It is here: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/
In addition to the newspapers, the library has a pretty large genealogy section with a help desk just for that section. There is free wifi in both the library and the archives.

Parking in lots on either side of the cultural center costs:
entrance from 6 am - 10 am $10.00 for the entire day
entrance from 10 am - 2 pm $ 5.00 for the entire day
entrance after 2 pm is free
Both the library and the archives open at 9:30 am.