Genealogy topic of Bernards Township Library program

BERNARDS TWP. – Those interested in tracing their family trees can find out about various free online genealogy resources during the next meeting of the Family History Interest Group (FHIG), which will be held from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, at the Bernards Township Library, 32 S. Maple Ave. in Basking Ridge.

Library Director Ruth Lufkin and reference staff members will present “Jump Start Your Family History Research @ the Library” in Program Room B on the library’s lower level.

The library has subscriptions to HeritageQuest Online, America’s GenealogyBank, and The New York Times historical edition that can be accessed by anyone from the library or from home using a Bernards Township Library card number. Obituary information, both historical and more recent, also is available.

HeritageQuest Online has more than 28,000 local history and family genealogy books and the United States Census, with an index to certain years. HeritageQuest also offers Revolutionary War records and Freedman’s Bank records.

America’s GenealogyBank provides web-based access to millions of U.S. core genealogical records from 1652 to the present day. Through basic name search and advanced search options, genealogists can easily find and browse digital images of American historical genealogies, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements, casualty lists, military and government documents and other essential primary sources.

It also provides the full text of modern U.S. newspaper obituaries and enhanced Social Security Death Index records.

Additionally, Ancestry Library Edition, available on computers in the library, mirrors the commercial website www.ancestry.com, and includes more than 7,500 databases of historical records with more added weekly.

Help in using any of these resources is available at the reference desk.

In the tradition of FHIG’s roundtable meetings, participants will have an opportunity to discuss their own experiences with library genealogy resources, ask the group for help in solving a problem they’ve encountered, or just listen.

There is no charge to attend the meeting, and coffee is served beforehand at 6:30 p.m.

All are welcome, regardless of whether they previously have been involved with family history.

FHIG meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month except December. The group provides opportunities for those interested in family history and genealogy to share information and experiences and be more successful in their search.

To subscribe to the FHIG e-newsletter, or to learn more about the activities of the group, visit www.bernardslibrary.org.

For additional information, call the library at (908) 204-3031, ext. 4, or email rlufkin@bernards.org.