Since becoming more and more involved with my genealogy, I am becoming more and more amazed by the power of the local public library. This power has grown exponentially with the growth of the internet and continues to expand.
The local library contains much to offer the family historian as well as the person who desires to pursue any dream under the sun. Actually, if you have a dream, I recommend stopping by the local library first! Several features that many local libraries have that can be help you in your research.
1. Stacks. The most obvious feature of any library are the stacks of books throughout the building. Every library has shelves and shelves of books, many nonfiction books that may pertain to the subject that you are researching.
2. Reference Material. Public libraries have a section for reference materials. This could be as simple as the encyclopedias, but as specialized as anatomy books. Many times in the reference area, you can find phone books and maps that are very useful in researching family history.
3. Historical Holdings. Many local libraries, typically the main county branch, will have a special section just for genealogy. This area is often overlooked because of the seemingly endless amounts of information online. Believe me, you can only get so far on the internet until you must begin to open the books.
4. Microfiche. Microfiche machines maybe limited to larger libraries and college libraries, but do not count these out. Yes, they are bulky and even scary, but only 20 years ago they were the place to go for research. In the microfiche rolls, you will find old newspapers, records, and magazines.
5. Online Agreements. Another key advantage of the public library is the online database agreements that many of them hold. “Ancestry.com Library edition” is a prime example of the free resources that you can tap into by just dropping by the local library.
Many of these suggestions are commonly known. However, they are so often over looked because there is so much available online. In you next research project, I recommend that you stop by the local library and see what they have to offer!
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