genealogical research bonnie d. mendes library director, somerset public library
TRANSCRIPT
Using your public library
Genealogical Research
Bonnie D. MendesLibrary Director, Somerset Public Library
The Librarian is your best resource
Google the town you are looking for (or ask us!) Connect to the Library’s webpage Look for “Reference” or “Genealogy” Email is a good start, but include a lot of
information Always contact the library first before sending
money for copies Remember, staffing levels are different – each
library is unique.
Contacting libraries
www.google.com www.yahoo.com www.bing.com http://www.ipl.org/
Don’t forget search engines
The Somerset Public Library
http://www.somersetpubliclibrary.org/
Click on the Reference Tab Then select Special Topics Select Genealogy
Ancestry.com is designed for the individual so
there is a lot of personalized functionality and there are personalized options available to individual subscribers that are not available on our institutional sites.
The following is a list of the major features and functionality that Ancestry.com subscribers have available that are not included in the institutional versions of Ancestry:
Library edition vs. home edition
Family Trees Tab
This section of the site has many great ways to share and manage all the great information you find at Ancestry.com including the ability to upload photos, documents and add stories about ancestors into Personal and Public Member Trees.
Collaborate Tab Browse or search millions of messages on thousands of surname, locality and topic-centric boards to connect and learn from long lost relatives and newfound friends. Use the Member Directory to search for other members of the Ancestry community who have common family history interests.
Store Tab Buy your favorite Ancestry and other genealogical materials including Ancestry.com's The Source, Redbook, Printed Sources< and more!
Additionally, there are certain databases that are available on Ancestry.com, that are NOT available on Ancestry Library Edition (ALE):
Family Trees Historical Newspaper Collection Family and Local History Collection Obituary Collection Periodical Source Index (PERSI) Filby's Passenger and Immigration Lists Index (PLI) Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) Freedman's Bank Records
With your own subscription…
1940s Census Other databases Searching
Let’s look at Ancestry (library ed)
FamilySearch.org
A free research tool provided by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.Genealogy Learning Center
New England Historic Genealogy SocietyProviding research tools and assistance
Where to Write for Vital Records The links on this National Center for Health Statistics site provide you with direct access to individual State and territory information. To use this valuable tool, you must first determine the State or area where the birth, death, marriage, or divorce occurred, then click on that State or area.
Other Internet sources
Other Internet Resources
Comprehensive Portals
Official genealogy portal for the US National Archives, contains guidance for genealogy research and diverse archives of American records
http://www.familysearch.org/FamilySearch provides resources and is tied to real-world family history classes and Family History Centers around the world
http://www.progenealogists.com/ProGenealogists offers paid research services but also provide a useful set of tools and links for getting started on your own.
http://www.genealogytoday.com/Genealogy publication with advice on getting started, links, and more
https://www.worldvitalrecords.com/One of the more popular paid genealogy database sites
Family Trees
http://www.misbach.org/pdfcharts/Downloadable genealogy charts (pdf)
http://www.myheritage.com/http://www.geni.com/Social network-oriented family tree sharing sites
http://www.familytreemaker.com/Popular genealogy software associated with ancestry.com
http://genealogy.lovetoknow.com/Draw_a_Family_Tree
Suggestions for making your own family tree
Other Internet Resources, con’t.International
Research
http://www.worldgenweb.org/
Volunteer-based organization for international genealogy
http://www.genealogylinks.net/
50,000 links sorted by region
https://www.23andme.com/partner/foa/Offers DNA testing resources to learn ancestry and personal health
information. http://www.footnote.com/
Access to more documents from the National Archives, with a set of tools for uploading, annotating, and sharing
http://www.digitalgenealogist.com/past.htmlThree-volume journal on digital genealogy
http://www.usgennet.org/Free and advertisement-free hosting of genealogy sites for educational purposes, public research, or study of national historic heritage
http://www.interment.net/Cemetery records online
http://www.dnaheritage.com/Information on DNA genealogy
http://www.genebase.com/http://www.familytreedna.com/DNA ancestry testing services
http://www.ellisisland.org/Search for relatives who may have come through Ellis Island
http://www.progenealogists.com/genealogysleuthi.htmPro Genealogist’s guide to sites their genealogists use, with indications of which are free and which are paid
Other Internet Resources
http://www.mass-doc.com/mass_research_tool
s.htm http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcgen/genidx.
htm (State Archives)
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcgen/genidx.htm
Massachusetts
Ancestry Cyndi’s List - http://www.cyndislist.com/us/ma New England Genealogy Society
http://library.nehgs.org/ Yahoo
My favorites
Somerset Public Library 1464 County StreetSomerset, MA 02726
Bonnie Mendes, Library [email protected]
Mary Pelletier, Reference [email protected]
508-646-2829Somersetpubliclibrary.org