Part 2 - Checking the Top Genealogy Library Catalogs

A while back, a post, here, discussed the best genealogical repositories beyond our nearby libraries. Now, we're going to investigate what you can get from "the nation's best." To come up with this list, FamilyTree Magazine's ranking was considered, along with that from FamilySearch. In addition to this post, the "Genealogy's Star" blog has a good post on the subject which emphasizes actually GETTING the relevant item.

• Anyway, the list below has the following characteristics considered
• They are part of worldcat dot org. One worldcat trick that is handy for genealogical searching on worldcat is to make the "best libraries" also your "favorites." 
• They have an online catalog
• There is a way for a nonresident to borrow materials without going there in person

Anyway, here goes with the list (in no particular order

FamilySearch Library
Link is here

FamilySearch Library - It is not generally known that the FamilySearch Library has a catalog which is connected to, but separate from the catalog available on FamilySearch dot org BOTH catalogs can be accessed online. In case you are looking from worldcat, the link will connect to the FamilySearch Library directly and reveal what formats they have and how to borrow them. As an example, a worldcat search for "The Averell-Averill-Avery family: a record of the descendants of William and Abigail Averell of Ipswich, Massachusetts" leads to a page as shown at the top of this post. Searching "Averill" gave 108 results that dropped to 47 if it was narrowed by surname. Searching by keyword for "Centre County" gave 515 results, which dropped to 77 if it was narrowed down to the Centre County in Pennsylvania. At one time, the FamilySearch library offered photo duplication services, but discontinued that as more items became digitized. NOW, however, the page that announced the discontinuation also indicated "If the film or book you are seeking is not yet been digitized, but is available on microfiche or microfilm, you can usually order it. It will be sent to a local family history center near you where you can view it." Pretty good, eh?

ACPL Page is here

Allen County Public Library (ACPL) - This library is in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is the home of the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Non-Indiana residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. This card is valid for one year. Subscription Card Cost for 2024:  $90.00. HOWEVER, anybody can use the ACPL genealogy search catalog. A search for the subject "Averill" gave 19 holdings in the library. Seventeen of the holdings involve "Averill family." Searching for "Centre County" gave 283 results which dropped to 95 when narrowed to the county in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, most of the ACPL holdings are on shelf. However, their site does have an "ask a genealogy librarian" which goes directly to a genealogy librarian. As is the case in most such services, the best results are obtained if you know what you are looking for, and where it might be available.

NYPL Genealogy here

New York Public Library (NYPL) - This library is a major donor to online catalogs. Looking for "The Averill..." book brings up a direct link to obtain the book directly online from Hathitrust. NYPL also offers temporary cards for nonresidents and these are FREE, but they only last for 30 days. Alternately use their online research search which gives 11 results for titles of "Averill Family" and 303 results for "Averill." Searching for "Centre County" gave 460 results which indicated items available in "e" form, but was not set up to facilitate easy search narrowing. Their search isn't as good as FamilySearch or ACPL, but that just means a bit of extra digging may bring up something golden.

Kelly's Ford, 1863 - from LOC

Library of Congress (LOC) - This library has about the biggest collection around. It is also a worldcat member, but, unfortunately, most of their stuff can't be borrowed. Their search didn't readily find much of relevance using "Averill" as a search term. However, they do have an "overall search" that gave 76,742 results including photos, newspaper articles. A drawing from LOC of General William Woods Averell in the Civil War is at the right. Lots of stuff at LOC, but it may take a bit of extra work to find something really useful. Similarly, searching "Centre County" gave 785,000 results, of which 750,000 are digitized newspapers.

Somewhat oddly, worldcat indicate that LOC has a copy of "The Averill..." book, but the worldcat "borrow it" link didn't lead to anything useful and neither did the general search until the "available online" radio button was switched to "all items," upon which the item below appeared and clicking on THAT led to a link to a copy of the book on Hathitrust.

Click on the link in the screenshot and get the book!

Eventually, you get there, but unlike ACPL, they do have a way to get the book, albeit in electronic form while the ACPL copy is real paper - in Indiana.

Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) - This library is in Independence, Missouri. They have a lot of stuff, but, like LOC, it can be tricky to find. Worldcat didn't identify "The Averill..." book as being at MCL, but searching either their general search or their search in genealogy reveals they have the book in microform. Searching "Averill Family" gave 13 results. Searching "Centre County gave 1,191 catalog results but many weren't about the Pennsylvania county. Unlike many other libraries, MCPL also has a circulating genealogy collection that "...began with a small collection of books donated to Mid-Continent Public Library by the American Family Records Association (AFRA). Mid-Continent Public Library agreed to circulate the books free of charge to researchers nationwide through interlibrary loan." MCPL also has a nonresident library card available for a fee of $35.00 (as of July 2021), and the card is valid for six months. That card also gives access to their online resources which are extensive. Unfortunately, you have to actually GO to MCPL to get the nonresident card, which cannot be renewed except by going to MCPL again and getting another card.

Dallas Public Central Library (DPL) - Their genealogy center on the 8th floor has nearly 200,000 items and worldcat often will find an item they have. However, the best way to search DPL for genealogy is to click on the link and also look at the tutorial on how to best search for genealogy. If too many items appear, narrow the search to "Central – 8th floor Genealogy." DPL didn't have any "Averill" items, but a search for "Centre County" gave 20 items in Pennsylvania. DPL does offer nonresidents an annual fee card, which allows unlimited check outs, is $250 which must be purchased at the library. Their search is better than MCPL, but not as good as ACPL.

Other "Best Genealogy" Resources - The list above certainly covers a lot of items, but there's MORE. While not on this list, searching "Centre County" provided the following results from other places on the FamilyTree or FamilySearch lists:

• National Archives gave 70,267 results. However, it isn't REALLY a library and isn't part of Worldcat
• New England History Genealogical Society (based in Boston) gave 32 results.
• Newberry Library (in Chicago) gave 1,096 results and 457 are available online (mostly through LOC).
• Sutro Library (in San Francisco - CA Library System) gave 188 results when narrowed to "Sutro Library."
• Clayton Library (part of Houston Public Library) gave nothing but 55 items about Texas. However, using the FamilySearch Instruction Page, 2 microprint and 1 periodical appeared (click on links to use the items).
• Birmingham Public Library gave 28 results, but most were really about Alabama. Going to the main library search gave a google search with all sorts of irrelevant results. The library has several good Alabama online databases.
• Denver Public Library gave 6 results when narrowed down to Pennsylvania in a keyword search.
• Detroit Public Library gave 31 results but some were not really genealogy and some weren't the PA place.
• Los Angeles Public Library gave 12 results when narrowed down the genealogy department. One feature of this library is it is one of few that has "Findmypast" in a library edition.
• National DAR Library gave 617 results, of which 140 are online, though most are only viewable in person at the DAR Library in Washington DC. Their GRC system is available to anybody & has ancestor & descendant lineages.
• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library gave 409 results, of which about the first 20 were relevant to the Pennsylvania County
• For comparison, Seattle Public Library gave 4 relevant results and none of the other genealogy libraries gave more than 1 result (and it was readily available online elsewhere)