Ozarks Genealogical Society Materials Available for Check Out at Library Center; Get Research Tips at Genealogy Symposium
The new year brings exciting news for genealogy researchers everywhere. Springfield-Greene County Library card holders can now check out the Ozarks Genealogical Society’s materials housed in the Library Center’s Local History & Genealogy Department.
This expanded access means more people in more communities across the country can use the collection of 2,500-plus historical and genealogical resources.
Since the Library began housing OGS materials in 1983, patrons had to use the materials inside the library. Libraries rarely share their genealogy collections because the books tend to have smaller print runs, often just for family members, and they’re hard to replace.
Now anyone can pick up or have the materials delivered to their nearest library branch or the Mobile Library if they prefer to do their research at home, or at odd hours, or their project requires multiple weeks or months. The researcher who lives out of town or out of state and needs a family history available only in the OGS collection can now request it through MOBIUS or Interlibrary loan. (OGS reference books don’t circulate.)
The collection represents significant genealogical data and family histories from almost every state, says Brian Grubbs, Local History & Genealogy Department manager. It includes many counties’ histories, marriage, death and divorce records; and census and immigration materials. There’s also a significant collection of material about people who arrived on the Mayflower, and material relating to Revolutionary War veterans.
“It’s a great collection,” Grubbs adds. “We’re really fortunate to have this partnership with OGS and we’re excited to bring it to the larger Springfield-Greene County Library population.”
OGS librarian Micki Dischinger was concerned the valuable collection wasn’t being used, especially by out-of-state OGS members who can’t travel to Springfield. “But by doing this partnership,” she says, ‘we can offer the books to them through Interlibrary Loan.”
Start your own research project at a Genealogy Symposium by Local History & Genealogy Department staff, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 in the Library Center auditorium. Reservations are not required.
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