Libraries are informational hubs for the communities they serve. Whether they are situated in a low-population town, within a college campus, or in the middle of a bustling cityscape, libraries strive to provide resources to citizens of all walks of life.
One of the most popular services offered through libraries is assistance with genealogical research. Public libraries, academic libraries, and special collection libraries often have a local or community history collection – sometimes even an entire department or wing – dedicated to preserving and sharing historical documents, photographs, videos, slides, newspapers, and more for the public to search on their quests to complete family tree research.
Libraries’ historical services and resources are typically provided at low-to-no costs, making them truly invaluable tools for all people interested in learning more about their unique genealogical history. While researching family trees can become frustrating, librarians strive to help people push through these genealogical mysteries, helping people see the full pictures of their personal histories.
Like other library services, genealogical and family tree research have come a long way, fully entering the twenty-first century with excellent digital tools and resources to make the research process even easier and more accessible.
What are libraries doing to revolutionize family tree and genealogical research?
Historically, libraries have always made accessibility a key focal point in their services. Librarians constantly strive to find new ways to make their resources more widely accessible, no matter what they are providing. Whether they are trying to create easier access to books, programming, databases, or technology, libraries work hard with a constantly-changing scope of an evolving world to ensure they are providing top-notch resources that are accessible by all – genealogical resources included!
Consider these methods twenty-first century libraries are implementing to revolutionize family tree and genealogical research:
1. Digitization & the Creation of Online Archives
When you think of someone completing research, you may conjure an image of a person flicking through old slides, blowing dust off the covers of ancient tomes, or even using a microfiche machine. While slides, books, and microfiche are still commonly-used resources for genealogical research, many libraries are opting to digitize their historical items to create online archives.
Libraries, archives, and museums are widely adopting the process of scanning various ephemera such as photographs, newspaper clippings, handwritten records, and other historical documents so they can be found and examined online. Some even opt to extensively photograph items that can’t be scanned, such as clothing, tools, jewelry, or other physical objects from the past. Not only does the digitization process eliminate the need to visit a physical facility to conduct research, but it also makes the entire collection easily searchable from anywhere.
2. Specialized Collections
Libraries, archives, and museums are often homes to highly specialized collections that can be valuable for genealogical research. When you are trying to track down specific branches of your family tree, you may find yourself hitting some “brick walls,” unable to find the next piece of information needed to pinpoint a past relative. This is where specialized collections come into play.
Many public libraries house historical collections unique to the areas and communities they serve. These collections house a large variety of historical ephemera unique to that specific area, making them hotspots for genealogical research. For example, if you knew your relatives once lived in a specific town in a different state from your own, you can contact that town’s public library and see if they have a local history department – chances are, they do (or they at least house a collection of historical documents relevant to the area), and may be able to help you find the information needed to complete family tree research.
3. Collaboration Opportunities & Genealogical Research Societies/Clubs
Public libraries often collaborate with other organizations, societies, and clubs to provide research assistance to the community. Public libraries are fond of community events and programming – for example, you may have seen your own local public library advertise storytimes or free classes. Local history departments within public libraries often host their own classes and programs as well; many are designed to help genealogical researchers of all skill levels find the information they need to complete family trees. To expand their offerings, public libraries will often partner with genealogical societies and groups to enrich the resources and information they are able to share with the public.
4. Online Databases and Research Tools
Offering access – particularly free access – to online databases and research tools specifically for genealogy is one of the most revolutionary offerings libraries have for folks trying to complete family tree research. Because they are internet-based resources, they are both easily searchable and accessible from anywhere.
Many libraries have access to a variety of these massive, easily searchable, and popular genealogy research databases and tools, such as Ancestry.com, African American Heritage, Fold3, HeritageQuest, and more – many individual states across America house state-specific informational databases as well. While many facilities may require researchers to hold a valid library card to access these resources, this nominal access requirement opens doors to research resources that would normally cost a hefty subscription fee for a single individual to access independently.
5. Interlibrary Loan Systems
Genealogical researchers understand that, sometimes, a specific resource needed to complete a family tree branch can be incredibly difficult to locate. In fact, the resource needed may be in one single, physical book….owned by a library located over four hundred miles away. Again, libraries have a solution for folks needing access to hard-to-acquire resources.
Libraries’ local history departments often participate in interlibrary loan programs, which allow them to source these highly specific, hard-to-find books and other resources from other libraries, and borrow them for their own local researchers and patrons to use. This service is a lifesaver for genealogical researchers who need highly specific books to finish their work, and it is often provided for a nominal fee, or even free, in most library systems offering the option.
6. Accessibility Considerations
The further libraries move into the future, the more concerned they become about making resources accessible for all users. Besides free subscriptions that allow library patrons to access resources that would normally cost money, libraries are also considering other needs people might have when attempting to access their collections.
For example, many libraries are furthering their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and because of this, it is more common to see digital resources offer features that make them more screen reader-friendly, such as alt text with photos and clearly marked headings on each page.
7. Crowdsourced Projects
Some libraries use crowdsourcing to expand their local history and genealogical collections. For example, community volunteers can be trained to digitize or scan items to be added to online databases and collections. As is often the case in digitization projects, the sheer amount of ephemera to scan or document can be massive, but with volunteers, the work can be completed much quicker. The faster this type of work is completed, the faster it can be made available online for people to browse.
Community projects, such as collaborative research efforts to piece together local history, can serve as a tool for future researchers to use as well. Many libraries invite members of the public to assist with community projects like these, as sharing bits and pieces of different family histories can help tie together larger pictures in the scope of local history.
8. Multicultural and International Resources
In the internet age, it is easier than ever for libraries to offer expanded access to international based resources for patrons to use in genealogical research. These resources become especially useful when researching family history prior to immigration.
Besides international resources, libraries are also expanding their own multicultural resources within their own collections. Libraries’ local history rooms are often homes to collections of specific cultural groups who have a presence in the area, such as Native American tribes, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian cultural groups.
9. Professional Librarians Specializing in Genealogical Research
Many libraries have whole departments dedicated to local history, and these departments are often staffed with professional librarians who specialize in historical research. These librarians are excellent community resources, as they aren’t just knowledgeable about local history, but they are also well-trained in using various tools and resources to complete genealogical research effectively and efficiently.
Librarians like these typically offer training courses and professional research assistance for people who want to learn more about performing family tree research.
Finding the Resources You Need In Your Community and Beyond
If you are ready to begin researching your own genealogical history, stop in at your local public library. Also consider visiting academic libraries, if you live in a college town, and any local museums. These facilities often house fantastic local history collections that are helpful when you are trying to learn more about your own family history.
If you currently live in a town different from your hometown (or if you know of familial ties to other towns you’ve never actually visited), consider emailing or calling the libraries in those towns to ask about local history or genealogical research resources. Many of these facilities are happy to help patrons from all over find specific documents and scan copies to them. In the internet age, email, messaging, and video conferencing have made speaking to professional librarians and finding research assistance easier than ever.
The best way to find the resources you need for genealogical research is to reach out to a librarian. Near or far, these research professionals will be able to connect you with resources, answer questions, and guide you in the right direction to kickstart your family tree research journey.
Low-Tech Research Options
While libraries’ local history departments are constantly updating their tools and resources to match technological advances, there are many excellent low-tech research options and tools still in use. These “tried and true” options are still kept for a variety of reasons: ease of use, necessity, reliability, cost, and staff time often account for these analog options still existing and being used.
Some items simply can’t be digitized (or there isn’t enough staff time or funding to have them digitized), so they remain physical items stored in collections. Alternatively, physical items are also kept because of rarity or historical significance – many historical documents and records are one-of-a-kind single copies, and keeping their physical conditions maintained and preserved are high priority.
When you visit a library’s history department, you’ll find a variety of items in the physical collections including, but not limited to: books, physical catalogs, magazines, newspapers, film, slides, photographs, school yearbooks, church records, directories, government meeting notes and agendas, and more. While the sheer amount of physical items to explore may feel overwhelming, especially when you’re on the hunt for specific genealogical information related to your family, remember that these collections are maintained with search protocols – the librarians on staff will be able to help you navigate through the vast amounts of information in an effective and efficient manner.
High-Tech Research Options: Online Databases and Tools
As libraries and their services moved into the twenty-first century, the way people find and interact with information evolved. Along with the tried-and-true resources listed above, many high-tech research options now exist for people interested in completing genealogical and family tree research. Many of these options can be accessed for free with a library card, depending on which are offered through your library.
1. Ancestry.com Library Edition
This version of the popular Ancestry.com resource is streamlined for library use. Libraries pay the subscription fee so their cardholders can access its vast repository of records for genealogical research. Different libraries will have different access levels – for example, some libraries may have subscriptions that allow use from home, while others will only allow access when you are physically visiting the library.
2. Fold3
Fold3 is dedicated to helping people find information about military ancestors. To date, this database holds over six hundred and forty million military records from the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For families with military ancestors, this resource helps people find specific information about service and more.
3. ProQuest African American Heritage
This database is completely dedicated to African-American Heritage and is often used by African-American families to learn more about early ancestors. This collection was created in partnership with leading African-American genealogists and recognized leaders in genealogical information to develop a comprehensive mix of resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African-Americans. As a consequence of slavery and the changing legal status of African-Americans, research in this area can be a lot more challenging than other genealogical inquiries – this database helps centralize a lot of that information.
HeritageQuest is similar to Ancestry.com – while Ancestry.com has a larger global focus, HeritageQuest focuses primarily on American histories. It is a comprehensive collection of American historical and genealogical resources dating back to the eighteenth century. It contains a plethora of primary resources, local and family histories, and finding aids, just to name a few of the holding types offered here.
The Power of a Digital Library Card & Online Resources
Many libraries offer digital library card options. Sometimes called online borrowers’ cards or virtual cards, these cards allow people from all over to access resources and collections provided by libraries in areas they may not be able to physically visit.
A number of public libraries across the country offer these digital cards as options. Registration is typically quick and the card becomes ready to use within minutes. Digital library card holders can then use their digital cards to access a variety of online resources, such as research databases, to complete genealogical research and access digital collections from afar.
While many local and community libraries offer digital card options, people interested in exploring collections can also pursue larger collections by exploring free digital collections hosted by national-level facilities and organizations, such as…
- The Library of Congress: The LOC’s digital collections are vast, regularly updated, and do not require a library card to access.
- The United States National Archives: This giant database is focused on federal-level records, such as Census data, military records, immigration and naturalization records, land ownership data, and more.
- The USGenWeb Project: This public-rain genealogy resource relies on users to collect important data to be shared for research. It contains local histories, cemetery records, vital records, obituaries, and more.
- Castle Garden and the Ellis Island Foundation: Both of these resources contain free access to records of people immigrating to America via Ellis Island. Castle Garden focuses on the earliest records, before Ellis Island was established.
- FamilySearch: This completely free-to-use genealogical research website offers access to billions (yes, billions) of records at the click of a mouse.
- Find a Grave: This resource focuses on cemeteries, death records, and obituaries. It is often used to pinpoint exactly where ancestors were buried.