| If you've spent any time at all researching your | | | | you if you visit the library itself. Here are a couple |
| family tree, you probably already know just how | | | | sites to help get you started: |
| valuable libraries can be in helping you get to the | | | | * Library of Congress Genealogy: The Local |
| bottom of the riddle that is your family's history. | | | | History and Genealogy Reading Room of the |
| The problem, of course, is that finding the time to | | | | Library of Congress ( is a great resource. You |
| trek to the library that actually has the clues you | | | | can access the catalog at this page: |
| need can be difficult, if not downright impossible. | | | | * The Allen County Public Library in Indiana: The |
| But the good news is this: you can most likely get | | | | Allen County Public Library has the second largest |
| access to exactly what you need without ever | | | | genealogical collection in the USA ( |
| leaving home. Thanks to the Internet and tried | | | | * Ask a Librarian: Don't let the thought of working |
| and true "snail mail," the information in the world's | | | | your way through a mass of books intimidate |
| best libraries is right at your fingertips. | | | | you. The librarians at any library will be pleased to |
| How to access the best library in the world | | | | help you, and that includes librarians at libraries you |
| Before we get into the tips, ask yourself this | | | | find online. Many libraries have an "ask the librarian" |
| question: what is the best library in the world for | | | | service. Look on the library's home page to check |
| genealogy researchers? Before you start | | | | whether your library offers it. Here's the "Ask a |
| wracking your brain, here's the simple answer - | | | | Librarian" page at a library in Florida, with links to |
| it's the one that has the info you're looking for. | | | | the same service in many other libraries: |
| Sounds simple, right? But the fact is, lots of | | | | 4 tips for writing to libraries |
| people overlook this. If your ancestors came | | | | If the Internet fails to turn up anything, you can |
| from Tumbleweed, Nowheresville, then that | | | | still go the old-fashioned route and write to the |
| town's library is going to be invaluable for your | | | | librarian at the library in question with your |
| research. In this case, size definitely doesn't | | | | requests. Here are four tips on how to contact |
| matter. | | | | librarians and get an almost guaranteed answer: |
| Now let's look at how to visit the library...without | | | | 1. Keep your request brief. If you ask for a |
| ever really having to visit the library (if you know | | | | complete history of your family in that area, your |
| what I mean). | | | | letter is likely to be ignored. However, if you ask |
| You can access many library sites online and look | | | | for a date of someone's death, or the date they |
| through their catalogs. (A catalog is a database of | | | | were married, most librarians will be happy to help. |
| the library's holdings.). Not only can you access the | | | | 2. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. |
| catalog of your local library online, but you can | | | | And if you need copies of documents, enclose a |
| also access the catalogs of many libraries around | | | | donation to go toward the costs. |
| the world. Start with LibWeb ( which gives you | | | | 3. Check your letter carefully. Make sure you've |
| access to libraries in 125 countries. | | | | spelled the names correctly, and that the dates |
| Also remember that most libraries have an | | | | are correct. |
| inter-library loan program, which means that you | | | | 4. If you're trying to track down a source for |
| can request a book in your local library that is held | | | | information, explain how you came by the |
| many miles away, and the book will be sent to | | | | information (for example, an interview with |
| your library so that you can borrow it. Not all | | | | someone in the family, an old newspaper, or a |
| books can be borrowed in this way. Older and | | | | letter). |
| valuable reference books may only be available to | | | | |