Patty’s Place

by: Chris Simeral

If you’ve spent any time at all researching your family tree, you probably already know just how valuable libraries can be in helping you get to the bottom of the riddle that is your family’s history. The problem, of course, is that finding the time to trek to the library that actually has the clues you need can be difficult, if not downright impossible.

But the good news is this: you can most likely get access to exactly what you need without ever leaving home. Thanks to the Internet and tried and true “snail mail,” the information in the world’s best libraries is right at your fingertips.

How to access the best library in the world

Before we get into the tips, ask yourself this question: what is the best library in the world for genealogy researchers? Before you start wracking your brain, here’s the simple answer – it’s the one that has the info you’re looking for. Sounds simple, right? But the fact is, lots of people overlook this. If your ancestors came from Tumbleweed, Nowheresville, then that town’s library is going to be invaluable for your research. In this case, size definitely doesn’t matter.

Now let’s look at how to visit the library…without ever really having to visit the library (if you know what I mean).

You can access many library sites online and look through their catalogs. (A catalog is a database of the library’s holdings.). Not only can you access the catalog of your local library online, but you can also access the catalogs of many libraries around the world. Start with LibWeb (http://lists.webjunction.org/libweb/), which gives you access to libraries in 125 countries.

Also remember that most libraries have an inter-library loan program, which means that you can request a book in your local library that is held many miles away, and the book will be sent to your library so that you can borrow it. Not all books can be borrowed in this way. Older and valuable reference books may only be available to you if you visit the library itself. Here are a couple sites to help get you started:

* Library of Congress Genealogy: The Local History and Genealogy Reading Room of the Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/) is a great resource. You can access the catalog at this page: http://catalog.loc.gov/.

* The Allen County Public Library in Indiana: The Allen County Public Library has the second largest genealogical collection in the USA (http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html).

* Ask a Librarian: Don’t let the thought of working your way through a mass of books intimidate you. The librarians at any library will be pleased to help you, and that includes librarians at libraries you find online. Many libraries have an “ask the librarian” service. Look on the library’s home page to check whether your library offers it. Here’s the “Ask a Librarian” page at a library in Florida, with links to the same service in many other libraries: http://www.askalibrarian.org/.

4 tips for writing to libraries

If the Internet fails to turn up anything, you can still go the old-fashioned route and write to the librarian at the library in question with your requests. Here are four tips on how to contact librarians and get an almost guaranteed answer:

1. Keep your request brief. If you ask for a complete history of your family in that area, your letter is likely to be ignored. However, if you ask for a date of someone’s death, or the date they were married, most librarians will be happy to help.

2. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. And if you need copies of documents, enclose a donation to go toward the costs.

3. Check your letter carefully. Make sure you’ve spelled the names correctly, and that the dates are correct.

4. If you’re trying to track down a source for information, explain how you came by the information (for example, an interview with someone in the family, an old newspaper, or a letter).

If you have been a visitor here before then you have noticed the major change of this site. You can still access my genealogy pages here: My PhpGedView. I don’t have everything entered as of yet but have made a good start. So far there are 212 individuals, 42 surnames & 44 families that I have entered into the database.

There is also a forum within the database, but you will have to register in order to post to the forum. Living relatives information can not be seen unless you are a registered member and related to that person.

PhpGedview also enables users to download what is called ‘clippings’ which is information on families/individuals that you save to your cart and can then download and import into your own gedcom. I have it set so that anyone can do this without being registered for ancestors who have already passed.

One of the upsides to this program is that multiple people can add to the gedcom if they are given permission to by the admin.

You can read here all about PhpGedView.

Sounds like a rock group doesn’t? Well, in a way it is… Cody has bladder stones, lots of them, but really tiny. he has been on antibiotics for a month, but to no avail. He still has them.

Back up to a month ago:
I noticed blood in his urine and took him to the vet. After x-rays it was as suspected; bladder stones. I was issued a month of antibiotics, he was put on a special diet and told to take my dog and watch him urinate every… EVERY time he goes out because a blockage could happen and it could become an emergency. But we’d like to try to dissolve the stones and avoid surgery, so here I am every day taking him for a walk down the road 35 times a day (an exaggeration, but it feels like that many!) So now, picture this… do you think he would hike his leg in such a way that I could see him urinate without being to obvious? OH NO… he manages to position himself in such a way that I just about have to stand on my head to make sure there is a stream with each hike… I wonder what folks driving down the road think as they see this woman sticking her head down to the ground and watching her dog pee? LOL!! He won’t pee on a leash in the backyard… nor can I keep up with him loose in the back yard to see him pee… so the walk is the only way.

NOW… a week or so later, the vet wants a urine sample to test his ph. Oh, okay I say, shall I bring him for you to do that? Not at all says she, just take a bowl out and catch some in it and bring that in…. AHHHHH… more humiliation… sure, okay… so out I go with my dog and my bowl… he hikes, I look around… how do you do this inconspicuously?? You don’t… that’s how… so… he hikes, I shove the bowl under him, he stops peeing immediately and looks at me as if to say… ummmm a little privacy here, huh?? 4 blocks down the road, I have 4 drops of urine in a bowl, a wet hand and one really irritated dog! LOL Not too mention an entire city probably gossiping about the strange woman who walks her dog, watches him pee and catches it in a bowl… what fun!!

We went last Friday for more x-rays, the stones are still there, we are on another round of different antibiotics for two weeks, after a week and half I get to chase him with a bowl again and take in a sample… plus more x-rays, if there is still no improvement, he’ll have to have surgery. A quite expensive procedure I am sure, I am afraid to ask the cost just yet as I am unsure how I am going to pay for it. But pay for it I will, one way or another.

I think the worst part so far has been the fact that he is not allowed ANY treats whatsoever on this special diet. He does not understand this. It’s really hard to turn down those pleading eyes.

Summary:

1st set of x-rays tests, etc.: $300.00
Second set of x-rays: $100.00
Special Diet for a month: $25.00
Being seen catching my dog’s urine in a bowl: Priceless