by Tina Lyons of Gen Wish List
The following are 10 tips for getting the most out of your
research trip from home and at the library. Even if you aren't planning a
visit to ACPL (Allen County Public Library), you can still conduct a ton of research from the
library's online databases and digitized books.
1. Familiarize yourself with the library.
At Home: Take time to explore the
Genealogy Center’s website. Watch the library's
Orientation video. Check out their
State and Subject Snapshots to view the highlights of their collection. Learn how to search their
print and microtext catalogs (PDF).
At ACPL: If you have the option, take the tour. Otherwise, pick
up the map of the library and the map of the microfilm collection at the
“Ask Here” desk upon entering the library. Walk around and explore
where everything is located before you start researching. Also don’t be
afraid to ask the librarians on duty for help locating materials.
2. Research in local history books. At Home: Search the
online catalog for the locations where your ancestors lived. Make sure to check links to
Internet Archive for books that have been scanned. For example, Volume 2 of
History of Dearborn, Ohio and Switzerland Counties, Indiana (1885) is available
online.
At ACPL: Local histories are shelved using the Dewey decimal
system. You can browse the books easily if you know the pattern. Books
that are general to the state are listed as XXX.X, county level books
are XXX.X01 and city books are XXX.X02. (The Xs here represent the call
numbers specific to a location.) For example, Indiana books are 977.2,
Indiana county books are 977.201 and Indiana city books are 977.202.
County and city books are then arranged alphabetically by the county or city.
Note: Indiana books are in their own special section. When you
enter the library, turn right and the Indiana collection will be in the
stacks to your right.
3. Research in the Family Histories. At Home:
Search the catalog
for family histories by typing the surname you are seeking and then
“family.” For example: “Lyons Family” or “Eiswerth Family”. Look for
links to Internet Archive for books that have been scanned.
At ACPL: The family history books are to the left of the
entrance. They are arranged alphabetically by the principal surname in
the book. Searching in the catalog will bring up many books that won’t
be found just browsing the shelves for a specific surname.
4. Research in online databases.
At Home: Check the lists of the library’s subscriptions and online databases. They have a number of
subscription databases that are free to search within the library, including Ancestry, Fold3, Heritage Quest and more. They also have many
free databases to use at home or at the library. These include
Indiana Resources,
African American Gateway,
Our Military Heritage and others.
At ACPL: Feel free to bring your own laptop, tablet or other
device and use the library’s WiFi. Otherwise you can use the many
computers in the department. If you don’t have a library card, ask a
librarian for a temporary number. It will last for 24 hours and give you
access to the library’s computers. Printing from the library’s
computers costs 10 cents (using a print card charged with paper
currency) or you can save any images you find to a flash drive.
Note: If you have your family tree online at Ancestry, you will
not be able to access your tree. The library automatically logs into the
ACPL library account and you cannot access another account on the
library’s internet. (Actually you can find your tree if you search for
someone in your tree, but that can be a pain.) If you have a tablet or
smartphone with the Ancestry tree app, you won't have a problem.
5. Take a break.
Note: There is no food or drink permitted in the department to protect the collection.
At Home: Check out the
map for restaurants (PDF) within walking distance of the library.
At ACPL: Remember to take a break to stretch and refuel your body. Take care of yourself so you can research at your best.
6. Research in Genealogy Periodicals.
Note: ACPL has the largest collection of genealogy periodicals in the
country (probably the world). They maintain an index of articles called
the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) based location and surname. Articles
are not indexed by every name, but by overall topic.
At Home: Search for your ancestors’ surnames and locations on
PERSI. It is available through Heritage Quest (if your local library has
access) and
Ancestry. Make sure to check the ACPL catalog to make sure they have the periodical you are seeking and to record the call number.
At ACPL: The newest editions of periodicals are located on the
East wall of the department (turn right when you enter the library and
go straight back to the wall.) They are organized alphabetically. When
the library has enough issues of a periodical, they bind them into a
book and put them on the shelves based on location or topic. Searching
in the library’s catalog should help you determine if a periodical has
been bound or not by whether or not it has a call number.
7. Research in Microtext Collection. At Home: Check the
microtext catalog and
newspaper holdings to view the library's collections. Many of these items, but not all, can also be found in the library’s main catalog.
At ACPL: If you want to save or print an image from microfilm,
use the readers connected to computers. Bring a flash drive to save your
images. Currently printing from microfilm is free, but that could
change. Or you can just view microfilm from the many other readers in
the Microtext Reading Room.
Note: Check the binder at the Microtext Ask Desk to find out what FHL films are on loan to ACPL.
Extra special tip: The Microtext Reading Room is cold (probably from
having the lights turned low). Bring a sweater if you plan to spend a
lot of time with microfilm.
8. Research in City Directories.
At Home: Search the catalog and microtext catalog to find what
city directories the library has in its collection. They have a large
collection of directories from across the country.
At ACPL: Older directories are available on microfilm. Modern
directories are available in book form in the western part of the
department (to your left as you enter the library, past the family
histories).
9. Ask the librarians.
At Home: The Genealogy Center’s website has
bios of the librarians that you might meet during your visit. If you have a question about the department, you can
contact them before your visit.
At ACPL: Can’t find the materials that you are looking for? Ask.
Can’t figure out the microfilm readers? Ask. Want some research advice?
Ask.
10. Stay in Touch with the library.
At Home: Sign up for the library’s
free monthly e-zine filled with information about their collection and upcoming events. Follow the
Genealogy Center’s blog and
“Like” them on Facebook. Check the
event calendar for programs that might interest you.
At ACPL: Come back to research again. Or move to Fort Wayne.
Some extra special tips: - If you can't find a book on the shelf, check the oversize section.
Or ask a librarian. Or ask the people researching and possibly find a
cousin using the same book.
- ACPL has open stacks. Find and take the books you want to use from
the shelves to a table. Want a bunch of books? Use the convenient black
carts. When you are done with the books, put them on the wooden carts by
the tables for the staff to return. Microfilm has a special table for
returns.
- Fort Wayne is on the Eastern time zone and follows daylight savings.
- Library Hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 9AM - 9PM
- Friday-Saturday: 9AM-6PM
- Sunday: Noon - 5PM (closed Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- Check ACPL website for closings due to holidays and professional development
- Parking is $1 per hour in the library lots
(PDF). Maximum charge is $7 a day. You can pay by credit card or cash at the
kiosk on the first floor by the checkout area. ACPL library card holders
get free parking. Street parking is free on the weekend.
- There are 4 copiers in the department. Copies cost 10 cents. They take copy cards than can
only be charged with paper currency.