At some point in your genealogical research journey, you will probably find yourself planning a trip to one or more libraries. I have not been to a library to do genealogical research yet. This may be because although I used to practically live at the library when I was a child, I have developed a sort of issue with going to the library. At the library, it is very, very quiet and visitors to the library are expected to keep it that way. I’m not sure when or how it started, but now when I go to a library and try to be quiet I invariably end up making noise somehow – knocking something over, forgetting to turn off the cell phone, or tripping over something, sending books and papers flying.
Enough about me and my library issues, though. If you are planning a research trip to a library, it is a good idea to make a plan of action before you go so that you can make the most of your time there. This is particularly important if you are prone to making loud noises and being kicked out of the library before you complete your research task – just kidding, I have never been kicked out of a library for my klutziness or accidental noisiness, I just get dirty looks. All kidding aside, it is important to be organized and have a plan so that you are not sidetracked. Genealogical research can be full of interesting tidbits of information that can quickly lead you off course if you do not stay focused.
My first suggestion may seem a bit elementary, but you would be surprised how many people do not bother to call the library to make sure that it will be open when they plan to visit it. In these times of budget crunches and scaling back municipal services, some libraries, especially those in smaller communities may have irregular hours. So, call the library and find out their hours of operation.
Next, make a list of the people or items that you would like to research. Make sure that you list any information that you already have, especially if it is for a person, as the information that you already have may offer clues as to where to look for information about them. You may also want to have a system for documenting your research process or at least a sheet of paper for each of the items or individuals that you will be researching. When you are at the library, write down where you looked for information on these sheets, as well as any information that you find. This is much better than leaving the paper blank because you did not find any information about that person, and later looking for them in the same sources, again turning up nothing because you forgot that you had already checked in those sources to no avail.
Finally, gather everything that you will be bringing to the library with you – your lists and research logs, lots of paper, a binder to keep everything organized, plenty of pens and pencils, and coins or bills for photocopies. Put it all in a bag or briefcase that can keep it organized, and enjoy your trip to the library.