Genealogy from Home!

I have been thinking about Genealogy quite a bit the last week or so. I have had the opportunity to attend a genealogy workshop and meet a number of other librarians who serve genealogist and professional genealogists from around the country.

At the meeting, I was struck by the fact that so many of the genealogists don’t know about their public libraries as a source for information. Many libraries have web pages which give information to locate where records can be accessed. They did not think of libraries as places that they could get newspapers or census records. It was very enlightening to learn that we really need to get the word out about all the great information which we have available.

Here at the Adams County Library System, we have been working on an obituary database of the Gettysburg Times and other historical local newspapers in partnership with the Adams County Historical Society. Although we don’t have copies of all the obituaries, you can use our search tool at http://www.adamslibrary.org/DeathIndex/ , locate an obituary, and then request a copy from the historical society.

Also at the Adams County Library System, you can access Heritagequest Online. This online source has available census records. You can get access to it at this link, http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login/barcode?aid=2076 Then just enter your library card number.

These are just a few ways we can help you with Genealogy at the Adams County Library System.