We’re Here to Help You with Genealogy

The Cass County Public Library’s Genealogy Branch entrance is located just steps away from the Harrisonville Branch’s DVD section, yet it seems we are a few steps too far for some because just the other day a Cass County Public Library Patron stood in the DVD section of the Harrisonville Branch and admitted that they have always wanted to dawn the doors of the Genealogy Branch but were too intimidated.

Does this describe you? Perhaps you attended your first genealogy class with doubts, or maybe looking up your initial ancestor’s name on a database was daunting. If this mirrors your thoughts about the Genealogy Branch, or genealogy and family history in general, we are here for you! Some of our favorite words to hear are, “this is my first time coming in here to work on my genealogy” or “I want to learn about my family history but don’t know where to start.” We want to help you, and it begins with taking a walk through our door.

Inside the Genealogy Branch, you will find computers set aside for genealogy use; on which the staff at the Genealogy Branch will assist and guide you in using CCPL’s genealogy databases such as Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, and more. We are equipped with a microform (microfilm and microfiche) reader, work/study space, and a copy machine that will print pages or scan to a memory device. We also have over 4,000 books and physical resources in the Genealogy Branch that will provide a wealth of information for various family histories.

So, please walk bravely through our door…we are looking forward to working with you!

 

What’s New

FamilySearch has digitized their 2.4 million rolls of microfilm! This has been an ongoing task for several years, and now researchers will be able to find more things online instead of traveling to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. FamilySearch is accessible here.
Read more about the project here.

The NBC series Roots Less Traveled is returning this month!
Read more here.

Kari is the NEW Genealogy Branch Manager! She comes to Cass County Public Library from The Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, MO. Kari has been working in the Genealogy field for over 8 years and has experience and education to share with Genealogy Branch patrons. Before working in libraries, Kari was a 5th grade teacher. Kari is currently working on her Masters of Library Science degree by attending classes through Emporia State University. Besides hunting for ancestors, Kari enjoys photography, reading YA novels, baking, traveling, taking walks, and sitting by a fire. Kari enjoys spending time with her family on a mini-farm with their 23 chickens. Kari looks forward to meeting all of the current Genealogy Branch patrons as well as the new family history enthusiasts who will use the Genealogy Branch in the future.

For more monthly updates like these, including information on any upcoming Genealogy events, be sure to subscribe to the Genealogy Branch’s newsletter below.

You can find archived newsletters here.