FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Repositories Public Libraries

WikiProject Pennsylvania Progress Chart  Wiki Project Pennsylvania Tasks - Repositories: Public Libraries

Task Description
This task uses different websites to help locate information about public libraries in the county that have genealogical information in their collections or a genealogy room. For example, an online obituary index, or genealogy/local history room located in the public library.

Instructions
NOTE: Only list a public library if the website states it has genealogical sources. Do not list all public libraries.

1. To determine the public libaries in the county, search the following webistes:


 * http://www.powerlibrary.net/
 * http://pa.public-libraries.org/library/county/Pennsylvania.html
 * PAGenWeb Check your county page.
 * Cyndi's List

NOTE: Libraries listed under a county may actually be in an adjoining county. You may locate the URL or other information about these libraries through www.publiclibraries.com.

2. Once you locate the website for the public library (if it exists), add the following:


 * Name of the public library. If the library has a website, add the link to the name of the library. See the example below. If there is no website link, bold the name of the library.
 * Address
 * Phone number
 * Any collections that are helpful for genealogy (obituary indexes, newspapers, cemetery records, genealogical websites, etc.)
 * If they have a local history or genealogy room.
 * You can also call the public library to clarify their holdings.

3. If your county has a library system which includes all the public libraries in that area, you can link to the system website instead of listing the individual libraries and their contact information. The following is an example:


 * Butler County Federated Library Systemconsists of 9 public libraries in Butler County. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites. Many are accessible with your library card from home. A list of the libraries in this system and their website and contact information is found here.

4. If there are many libraries in the county, you may choose to just add the library in the county seat and any other libraries with a genealogy room or signficant genealogical collections.

Example
The Reading Public Libraryis located at 100 South Fifth Street in Reading. Free parking is available in the rear of the library for library patrons. Microfilm copiers are avaiable and full runs of the Reading Eagle and the Reading Times are open to the public. Located on the second floor of the library is the Pennsylvania Room. It contains local histories and genealogies associated with Berks County. City directories and high school yearbooks are also located in the Pennsylvania Room.

Archives
The York County Archives is a department of the York County Government.

The Archives was established in 1987 and moved to its current location in 1995. To accommodate the growing number of records, the Archives building was expanded in 2001.

York County's records begin in August of 1749 when York County was formed from Lancaster County. The Archives stores records for over 40 different county offices during various time periods throughout the past 250 years.

The Archives is located at: 150 Pleasant Acres Road York, PA 17420 Phone: 717–840-7222 Open - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Courthouse
York County Judicial Center Second Floor 45 North George Street York, PA 17401 Phone: 717–771-9288 Fax: 717–771-4678

Family History Centers
Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources for family history research.

The main FHC for York County, Pennsylvania is the York Pennsylvania Family History Center. For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory.

Libraries
Martin Memorial Library, 159 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania, Phone: 717–846-5300

Museums
York Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania, (formerly York County Historical Society). From quilts to tiny photographs, the Historical Society Museum and Library houses both exhibits and an extensive research library. The Heritage Trust's Library and Archives houses an extensive and varied collection covering a wide range of topics including genealogy and family history, local history, the decorative arts and military history.

Societies
York Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania, (formerly York County Historical Society)

South Central Genealogical Society, meets in the York County Heritage Trust, 250 E. Market St., Richard Konkel, president. Check meeting dates and times online.

Susquehanna Trail Genealogy Club, meets the fourth Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2100 Hollywood Drive, York, Pennsylvania. Contact Jackson Sonneborn, president, and Mark Gagermeier, webmaster. 717-757-2331