Jacavone column: Video series to help navigate genealogical resources

At the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library, we receive many inquiries about genealogy and local history.

Not only does the North Carolina History Room on the second floor have several books, maps, and articles to get you started on researching your family history, but thanks to the digitization of several genealogical records and ease of internet access, your library card can give you additional access to hundreds of thousands of pages of digitized and text-searchable historical records.

This wealth of information and resources can be overwhelming, and many patrons do not know where to start or what resources are available.

Thanks to Library Assistant Emma Tynch, the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library will be releasing a five-part online video series explaining how to use the various online genealogical resources available through the library. Tackling some of our most comprehensive resources, such as DigitalNC, Heritage Quest, Ancestry Library, and NCLive, these five- to 10-minute videos guide you through the resources step by step.

With your library card, all of these resources, with the exception of Ancestry Library, can be accessed from the comfort of home. Ancestry Library is also free but can only be accessed by a computer at the library.

These videos will be available on the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library’s YouTube channel and will also be posted with a link on our Facebook page. As you dive into NCLive or DigitalNC to research your family history, these videos can help guide you through the search settings and different tools available in each resource.

If you want to check out our genealogical resources, stop by the Shepard-Pruden Memorial library, and we can get you started on your research. While you visit the library, be sure to check out some of our latest titles in the collection. Have a great week, and we hope to see you at the library.