Public libraries have grown and changed quite a lot over the years. Gone are the days when the only way to visit a library was to hop in the car and drive there. Most libraries now have extensive online resources, including eBooks, web resources, activities and learning groups, and more. Each has a website customized to the needs of their visitors, and you can ask questions and get answers from librarians online. In this time of pandemic where many library buildings are temporarily closed, the online offerings take on even more importance.

The Family History Guide is a natural match for public libraries. It’s a great way to find family history information and to share it with others. So we have created a new page in the Trainers menu, to help librarians and administrators take advantage of The Family History Guide.

There are five sections on the page:

• 1: Self-paced Learning – explains how library guests can use the website as a ‘mini-library” of learning.
• 2: Reference Tool for Librarians – shows how librarians can assist guests in getting started with family history and making progress, without the need for being a genealogy professional or doing research for guests.
• 3: Customized Training – suggests ways for library staff to provide family history training to guests quickly and efficiently, using The Family History Guide website as the source for material.
• 4: Involving Youth and Children – explores how libraries can use The Family History Guide in their online programs for educating youth and kids.
• 5: More in The Family History Guide – shares additional resources in The Family History Guide that can be useful for librarians and guests to explore.

Outreach Program

We recently contacted many of the larger public libraries in the United States about The Family History Guide and have already heard back from a number of them. We have offered demo sessions of the website, with emphasis on using the site to accomplish learning and training goals for individual libraries.

If you are a fan of family history and libraries, why not share this article with a librarian in your area? It could open he door to some great discovery experiences, both for the libraries and the learners.