Your Guide to Using Libraries and Archives for Genealogical Research

• Libraries contain books and other media, mostly published. Librarie may also contain manuscript collections.
• Archives contain non-current and usually unpublished records of individuals, organizations institutions. Archives often also contain book collections.
  For Information on finding a locating and using Archives, see my separate page on Archives.

OCLC: The World's Libraries Connected

• WorldCat (sometimes called First Search) includes the holdings of many (but not all) libraries in the United States and in many other libraries world wide. It also includes the holdings of many archives.
• Use world cat to find what books have been published on a topic or to o find which libraries own a specific book
  • Search OCLC's World Cat.
    • Once you select a book, type your zip code in the box provided and it will show owing libraries nearest you. (This is what I use for the "find in a library" links on my pages.)
    • Not every owning library will appear -- usually it is the larger ones. It never hurts to double check the catalog of a specific library.
• OCLC knows that genealogists are using OCLC to find books and have provided a web page especially for us: see their Focus on Genealogy
• You can install a Facebook or Firefox browser plug in to have the earch box always handy.
  • Don't want to do that? Just google this phrase: "Find In a Library".
    • Too much to google? Just remember the url: worldcat.org
• To save information in WorldCat, first create an account. With an account you can create lists and bibliographies. You can also review books.

Finding Libraries

Local Libraries

Many local libraries have genealogical and historical material specific to the area they serve. By using these libraries -- or their websites! -- you may find a great deal of helpful information about area residents and events. Sometimes you will have to go to a larger nearby library -- often the library in the nearest county seat or larger city -- to get that information. Don't forget to look at the holdings of University libraries! Local historical and genealogical societies might have their own libraries. And of course, if there is a state library or archives it may contain a bonanza of information.

I often start with information at the U.S.Genweb site for the county I am searching. This site often gives information as to libraries that might be helpul to area researchers. If I am lucky, I will find a map of the county, so I can see where my ancestor lived relative to the nearest cities.

If the U.S, Geneweb page for the county fails, try the Linkpendium or Cyndi'sList for that county under libraries and archives.

Try these directories to find a library -- although I must admit, often I just google some key words, e.g. flint michigan public library and the right entry appears in the first few hits.

• LibWeb
• Library Spot
• publiclibraries.com
• Canadian Libraries
• Archives & Repositories World Wide
• World Cat Find A Library Near You
• Genealogy and Historical societies might have private libraries that are very helpful.
• Statewide designated repository systems (for local government records)
  • Ohio Network of American History Research Centers
  • Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD)
  • Texas Regional Historical Resources Repository

Libraries with Strong Genealogy Collections

Some libraries house a genealogy collection that allows a researcher to do reseach in a multi-state area.

Within an hour of Ann Arbor; strong genealogy collections

• Toledo Lucas Co. Public Library
• Library Of Michigan -- Archives of Michigan
• Burton Collection (DPL) 

Within a half day's drive from Ann Arbor; very strong genealogy collections

• Newberry Library in Chicago
• Allen Co. Public Library in Fort Wayne

In Washington DC

• Library of Congress
• DAR Library
  

Top 10 Public Libraries for the Genealogist, identified by Rich Crume in the Oct. 2002 issue of Family Tree Magazine. These are libraries you might visit because they hold large collections that cover a large geographic area. Some might be close to home, some a nice place to spend a day or two while on vacation and you might find one or two that will be a destination place.

• Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana. A standout; the largest genealogy collection of all the public genealogy libraries -- and as you can see by the link above, only a half day's drive from Ann Arbor. Well worth a visit.
  • view their orientation video
• Birmingham (Alabama) Public Library. Tutwiler Collection for Southern Research. (strongest for Alabama)
• Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research (Houston, Texas). (Be sure to see the more information page ) An extensive collection, covering the whole United States and providing some international resources.
• Dallas Public Library (Texas) Extensive U.S. coverage, Texas Dallas History & Archives Division. and Genealogy Collection
• Denver Public Library: Western History and Genealogy and African American Research Library.
• Detroit Public Library: Burton Collection Note: they now charge $10 for non residents (of Detroit) to use the collection. If you have Detroit area ancestors, it's the place to go. It also has a strong Canada collection.
• Los Angeles Public Library See also their Regional History Databases
• Mid Continent Public Library -- Midwest Genealogy Center (Independence, Missouri) One of the few genealogy libraries that will lend books on interlibrary loan.
• New York Public Library - Milstein Division
• Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Genealogy & Local History Department
  • Watch this nice little video tour of the collection.

And add to the these:

• New England Historic and Genealogical Society Library in Boston -- you don't need to be a member to visit the library, although there is small daily use charge. Membership gives you access to a large collection of online databases, periodicals and other materials.

Examples of the value of university libraries to genealogists

• University of Michigan Library
  • Genealogy Guide
  • Bentley Historical Library

Find more

• Directory of Genealogy Libraries in the U.S.
• Genealogy Libraries on the WWW

Exploring Libraries: Content and Services

Content

• Local History and Genealogy Collections. Here are some examples of ones that are nicely covered on the website
  • Example:
  • Resources available at the Bloomington Public Library (McLean County Illinois)
  • Brighton Room (Brighton, Michigan)
• Library created index files and databases
  • Example: Lima Ohio index and copy service for obituaries
  • These will often be found at state libraries and archives
• Library created digital collection (often state archives and libraries)
  • Example: AADL Local History Page that features several digital collections.
  • The Vermont Historical Society Library has made some of their resources available online.
  • Brigham Young University collection of local and family histories.
• Local newspapers
  • For each state, one or more libraries designated as holder of microfilmed copies of newspapers state wide.
    • example: Library of Michigan newspapers on microfilm
    • U.S. Newspaper Program
      • State Repositories (lots of bad links here)
      • newspapers held at the Center for Research Libraries
        • CRL's lending policy
      • lists of titles filmed by state
  • Most local libraries hold microfilm of the local newspaper(s)
  • Chronicling America Directory of Newspapers helps you determine what has been published and shows some owning libraries.
  • A few libraries are digitizing local newspapers
    • Check this list to find some (by no means all) efforts.
    • examples:
      • Rawson Memorial Library (Cass City)
      • Birmingham (Alabama) Public Library Iron Age
      • University of Illinois Farm, Field & Fireside collection
• City Directories
  • A few libraries list their holdings on City Directories of the United States.
  • But for the most part, check the websites of likely libraries or historical/genealogical society.

Library Services

• Subscriptions to Databases
  • e.g. Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, Fold3, History & Genealogy Master Index, Historical newspapers.
• Reference Assistance ( Ask A Librarian)
• Interlibrary Loan and Photocopy
  • Use PERSI* and request photocopies from Allen Co. Public Library (periodicals)
    • Free at your local library in HeritageQuest!
    • *About PERSI
  • NGS Lending Library
  • Midcontinent Public Library Genealogy in the Heartland lending collection.