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Top Shelves: Library Catalog

By Lauren Gamber Premium

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85 libraries returned our survey

14 percent of libraries charge a usage fee; average daily fee for nonresidents or nonmembers is $6

48 libraries have 95 percent or more of their collections in open stacks

Average time for responding to a long-distance research request: 7 days

Average square footage: 8,149. The largest library, the FHL, has 142,000 square feet of genealogical materials and services. The smallest, The Downriver Genealogical Society Library, has 200 square feet.

91 percent of libraries offer classes

34 libraries are open most weekends (some during the school year only)

6 libraries (FHL, Allen County, Clayton, Mid-Continent, San Antonio and Cincinnati) have complete US census microfilm collections, covering 1790 through 1930 for all states

16 libraries have dedicated parking lots with more than 100 spaces

71 libraries recruit and use volunteers on a regular basis

62 libraries offer free Wi-Fi to patrons

88 percent of libraries offer subscription-based research databases. 79 percent subscribe to HeritageQuest Online; 76 percent have Ancestry Library Edition. 58 percent said the availability of such services has altered their microfilm acquisition policies.

31 libraries have snack counters or vending machines

48 percent of libraries update their catalogs daily

 

 
ALABAMA

Birmingham Public Library

Linn-Henley Research Library Building, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203, (205) 226-3665, <www.bplonline.org>

Huntsville-Madison County Public Library

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915 Monroe St., Huntsville, AL 35801, (256) 532-5969, <hpl.lib.al.us>

Wallace State Library

Family and Regional History Program, Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077, (256) 352-8265, <www.wallacestate.edu/library/genealogy.html>

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ARKANSAS

Fayetteville Public Library

Grace Keith Genealogical Collection, 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 75701, (479) 571-2222, ext. 4453, <www.faylib.org/services/genealogy.asp>

Polk and Montgomery County Local and Family History Library

Box 226, Norman, AR 71960, (870) 334-3188, <www.normanarkansas.com/genealogy.html>

CALIFORNIA

California Genealogical Society and Library

2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 663-1358, <www.calgensoc.org>

Fresno County Library

California History and Genealogy Room, 2420 Mariposa St., Fresno, CA 93721, (559) 488-3439, <www.fresnolibrary.org/caI if>

Napa Valley Genealogical and Biographical Society

1701 Menlo Ave., Napa, CA 94558, (707) 252-2252, <www.napanet.net/~nvgbs>

Southern California Genealogical Society and Family History Library

417 Irving Drive, Burbank, CA 91504, (818) 843-7247, <www.scgsgenealogy.com>

DELAWARE

Selbyville Public Library

11 Main and McCabe streets, Selbyville, DE 19975, (302) 436-8195, <www.selbyvillelibrary.org>

FLORIDA

Fort Myers-Lee County Library

2050 Central Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901, (239) 479-4636, <www.lee-county.com/library>

Indian River County Main Library

Archive Center and Genealogy Department, 1600 21st St., Vero Beach, FL 32960, (772) 770-5060, ext. 4148, <irclibrary.org/genealogy>

Selby Public Library

1331 First St., Sarasota, FL 34236, (941) 861-1175, <www.sclibs.net> and <rootsweb.com/~flgss>

Venice Public Library

300 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice, FL 34285, (941) 861-1330, <www.sclibs.net/Libraries/Venice.aspx>

GEORGIA

Live Oak Public Libraries

Bull Street Library, 2002 Bull St., Savannah, GA 31401, (912) 652-3697, <www.liveoakpl.org>

ILLINOIS

Cook Memorial Public Library District

413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048, (847) 362-2330, <www.cooklib.org>

McHenry Public Library District

809 Front St., McHenry, IL 60050, (815) 385-0036, <www.mchenrylibrary.org>

North Suburban Library System

200 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling, IL 60090, (847) 459-1300, ext. 7126, <www.nsls.info> and <www.digitalpast.org>

South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society Library

3000 W. 170th Place, Hazel Crest, IL 60429, (708) 335-3340, <rootsweb.com/~ssghs>

Sterling Public Library

102 W. Third St., Sterling, IL 61081, (815) 625-1370, ext. 20, <www.youseemore.com/sterling>

Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society Library

719 N. 11th St., Pekin, IL 61555, (309) 477-3044, <www.tcghs.org>

INDIANA

Allen County Public Library

The Genealogy Center, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, (260) 421-1226, <www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy>

Brookville Public Library

919 Main St., Brookville, IN 47012, (765) 647-4031, <www.wvcl.org>

Hamilton East Public Library

Indiana Room, 1 Library Plaza, Noblesville, IN 46060, (317) 770-3206, <www.hepl.lib.in.us/ref/indiana_room.html>

Jackson County Genealogical Society Library

415 S. Poplar St., Brownstown, IN 47220, (812) 358-2118, <jcncgs.com>

Jackson County Public Library

303 W. Second St., Seymour, IN 47274, (812) 522-3412, ext. 256, <www.myjclibrary.org>

Kokomo-Howard County Public Library

220 N. Union St., Kokomo, IN 46901, (465) 457-3242, <www.khcpl.org/glhs>

Lawrenceburg Public Library District

Genealogy/Local History Department, 150 Mary St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, (812) 537-2775, ext. 39, <lpld.lib.in.us/history.htm>

Marion Public Library and Museum

600 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46953, (765) 668-2900, ext. 154, <www.marion.lib.in.us>

Mooresville Public Library

Indiana Room, 220 W. Harrison St., Mooresville, IN 46158, (317) 831-7323, ext. 18, <www.mooresville.org/indiana_room.htm>

New Albany-Floyd County Public Library

Stuart B. Wrege Indiana History Room, 180 W. Spring St., New Albany, IN 47150, (812) 949-3527, <www.nafclibrary.org>

Porter County Public Library System

611 Center St., Valparaiso, IN 46383, (219) 462-0524, <www.pcpls.lib.in.us/genealogy/genealogy.htm>

Shelby County Public Library

Genealogy and History Room, 58 W. Hendricks St., Shelbyville, IN 46176, (317) 398-8144, <www.sscpl.lib.in.us>

Wakarusa Public Library

124 N. Elkhart St., Wakarusa, IN 46573, (574) 862-2465, <www.wakarusa.lib.in.us>

IOWA

Decorah Genealogy Library

202 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101, (563) 382-8559, ext. 107, <www.decorah.lib.ia.us>

KANSAS

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

1515 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604, (785) 580-4510, <www.tscpl.org>

W.A. Rankin Memorial Library

502 Indiana, Neodesha, KS 66767, (620) 325-3275, <www.neodesha.com/Library.htm>

KENTUCKY

Bullitt County History Museum Research Library

300 S. Buckman St., Shepherdsville, KY 40165, (502) 921-0161, <www.bullittcountyhistory.org>

Kenton County Public Library

502 Scott Blvd., Covington, KY 41011, (859) 962-4070, <www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy>

MAINE

Maine State Library

65 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, (207) 287-5600, <www.maine.gov/msl/services/genealogy>

MARYLAND

Washington County Free Library

Western Maryland Room, 100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD 21740, (301) 739-3250, <www.washcolibrary.org>

MASSACHUSETTS

New England Historic Genealogical Society Research Library

101 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, (888) 296-3447, <www.newenglandancestors.org>

Plymouth Public Library

Plymouth Collection, 132 South St., Plymouth, MA 02360, (508) 830-4250, <www.plymouthpubliclibrary.org/history.htm>

MICHIGAN

The Downriver Genealogical Society Library

1335 Southfield Road, Lincoln Park, MI 48146, (313) 381-0507, <rootsweb.com/~midrgs/drgs.htm>

Ellis Reference and Information Center

Reference Department, 3700 S. Custer Road, Monroe, MI 48161, (734) 241-5277, <monroe.lib.mi.us>

Mount Clemens Public Library

150 Cass Ave., Mount Clemens, MI 48043, (586) 469-6200, <www.libcoop.net/mountclemens/genealog.htm>

Van Buren District Library/Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society

200 N. Phelps St., Decatur, MI 49045, (269) 423-4771, <www.vbdl.org> and <rootsweb.com/~mivanbur/Mivanbur.html>

MINNESOTA

Anoka County Genealogical and Historical Society

2135 Third Ave. N., Anoka, MN 55303, (763) 421-0600, <freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~relativememory>

Iron Range Research Center

801 SW Highway 169, Suite 1, Chisholm, MN 44781, (218) 254-7959, <www.ironrangeresearchcenter.org>

MISSISSIPPI

John Marshall Stone Research Library

203 E. Quitman St., Iuka, MS 38852, (662) 423-3500, <rootsweb.com/~mstchgs>

MISSOURI

Mid-Continent Public Library Midwest Genealogy Center

3440 N. Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO 64050, (816) 252-7228, <www.mcpl.lib.mo.us>

St. Louis County Library

Special Collections, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131, (314) 994-3300, ext. 208, <www.slcl.org/branches/hq/sc>

St. Louis Public Library

History and Genealogy Department, Central Library, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103, (314) 539-0385 or (314) 5390386, <www.slpl.org>

Scotland County Memorial Library

306 W. Madison St., Memphis, MO 63555, (660) 465-7042, <scotland.lib.mo.us>

NEBRASKA

Omaha Public Library

Genealogy Department, 215 S. 15th St., Omaha, NE 68102, (402) 444-4826, <www.omahapubliclibrary.org/genealogy/gen.html>

NEW JERSEY

Passaic County Historical Society Library

Lambert Castle, 3 Valley Road, Paterson, NJ 07503, (973) 247-0085, <www.lambertcastle.org>

NEW YORK

Buffalo and Erie County Public Library

Grosvenor Room, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203, (716) 858-8900, <www.buffalolib.org/libraries/collections/index.asp?sec=grosvenor>

New York Public Library

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of US History, Local History and Genealogy, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018, (212) 930-0828, <www.nypl.org/research/chss/lhg/genea.html>

Port Washington Public Library

1 Library Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050, (516) 883-4400, <www.pwpl.org>

OHIO

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Special Collections Division, 60 S. High St., Akron, OH 44326, (330) 643-9030, <www.akronlibrary.org/main-sc.html>

Cleveland Public Library

History and Geography Department, 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 623-2865, <www.cpl.org>

Columbus Metropolitan Library

Genealogy, History and Travel Division, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 645-2275, <www.columbuslibrary.org>

Ohio Genealogical Society Library

713 S. Main St., Mansfield, OH 44907, (419) 756-7294, <www.ogs.org>

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Genealogy and Local History Department, 800 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, (513) 369-6905, <www.cincinnatilibrary.org>

OKLAHOMA

Muskogee Public Library

801 W. Okmulgee Ave., Muskogee, OK 74401, (918) 682-6657, ext. 257, <www.eok.lib.ok.us/genweb>

OREGON

Genealogical Forum of Oregon

1505 SE Gideon St., Portland, OR 97202, (503) 963-1932, <www.gfo.org>

Juniper Branch of Family Finders

21 SE D St., Madras, OR 97741, (541) 475-9745, <www.jbff.org>

PENNSYLVANIA

Free Library of Philadelphia

Newspapers and Microfilm Center, Central Library, 1901 Vine St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 686-5431, <www.freelibrary.org>

State Library of Pennsylvania

Genealogy and Local History Collection, Room 101, Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17126, (717) 346-4324, <www.statelibrary.state.pa.us>

TENNESSEE

East Tennessee History Center

Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, 601 S. Gay St., Knoxville, TN 37902, (865) 215-8824, <www.knoxlib.org>

Linebaugh Public Library

105 W. Vine St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130, (615) 893-4131, <www.linebaugh.org>

TEXAS

Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research

Houston Public Library, 5300 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004, (832) 393-2600, <www.houstonlibrary.org/branches/cla_home.html>

San Antonio Public Library

600 Soledad St., San Antonio, TX 78205, (210) 207-2500, <www.sanantonio.gov/library>

Texarkana Public Library

Genealogy Department, 600 W. Third St., Texarkana, TX 75501, (903) 794-2149, <www.txar-publib.org>

UTAH

Family History Library

35 N. West Temple St., Room 344, Salt Lake City, UT 84150, (866) 406-1830, <www.familysearch.org>

VIRGINIA

The Hugh S. Watson Jr. Genealogical Society of Tidewater, Virginia

14415 Old Courthouse Way, Newport News, VA 23608, (757) 988-1055, <rootsweb.com/~vatgs>

WASHINGTON

Heritage Quest Research Library

909 Main St., Suite 5, Sumner, WA 98390, (253) 863-1806, <www.hqrl.com>

Seattle Public Library

History, Travel and Maps Department, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, (206) 386-4636, <www.spl.org>

Spokane Public Library

Genealogy Collection, 906 W. Main St., Spokane, WA 99201, (509) 444-5300, <www.spokanelibrary.org>

Washington State Library

6880 Capitol Blvd. S., Tumwater, WA 98504, (360) 570-5574, <www.secstate.wa.gov/library>

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Historical Society Library

816 State St., Madison, WI 53706, (608) 264-6535, <www.wisconsinhistory.org/genealogy>

WYOMING

Laramie County Library

Special Collections, 2200 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001, (307) 634-3561, <www.lclsonline.org/genealogy>

WASHINGTON, DC

Library of Congress

Local History and Genealogy Reading Room, Humanities and Social Sciences Division, 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20540, (202) 707-5537, <loc.gov/rr/genealogy>

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Library

1776 D St. NW, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 879-3229, <www.dar.org>
 
From the July 2008 Family Tree Magazine

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