A long post so be sure to click on the number 2 at the bottom of the post to read it all. Otherwise, click on the + on the bottom right corner.
If you have one or more library cards, do you know about the many historical, genealogical, and newspaper databases available from that library? Some will be available from home, but others are only accessible on computers in the library. No library has everything we hope for, and some are lacking in the fantastic sites other libraries provide to their patrons. Check for local history or genealogy collections on the library’s website for additional online resources such as digitized city directories or partial newspaper indexes.
College and university libraries generally have a larger number of online resources. Students, staff, and alumni have better access from home to more than the general public does. It’s worth a visit to make use of the publicly allowable databases. Then check for area genealogical society libraries and what they have to offer. The Minnesota Genealogical Society and its associated organizations have many!
A small number of states have statewide availability to a variety of great research resources for state residents only. Among the ones available with my Saint Paul and Minneapolis area library cards are these.
At the library only:
• Ancestry Library Edition
• FamilySearch Affiliate Library Access
• Fold3 Library Edition
• Westlaw
At home. A handful of these are available directly on my laptop computer without a library card. Not sure why I have listed some of these on the next page? Time to go explore the online offerings of your area libraries. Have your library card handy!
© 2024, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.
Thanks for highlighting the many advantages of a library card for genealogists… All libraries would love to offer more, but budgets rarely allow for complete coverage. It’s great if you live in an area with more than one system that might offer different databases and services. The library where I work has Ancestry Library Edition, is a FamilySearch Affiliate, and has access to historical newspapers for the province (I’m in Canada), as well as access to some of the Gale databases, including The Times Historical Archive. We also have a local authors collection and work closely with the museums and archives in our area.
How do you access the second page?
If the post is showing my copyright, under that you will see where you can click on the number 2. If you don’t see that, look at the lower right hand corner and click on the + sign.