This week the Midwest Genealogy Center, in conjunction with the Mid-Continent Public Library, joins libraries in local schools, college campuses, and communities across the nation in celebrating National Library Week. This week recognizes the attributes, contributions, and value of libraries and its staff in their respective communities.
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country, annually each April.
IndieFlix is one of MCPL’s newest databases where you can stream independent films and shorts for free! You can find a wide variety of videos, and they have a great filtering system to help you find exactly what you are looking for. You do have to create a free account with IndieFlix, and when you log in, you see a warning that the films are not rated "and may contain offensive language, scenes of violence and sexual situations" (parents will need to be responsible to monitor their kids’ usage).
I never would have thought I’d ever have anything happen to me before. I’m sure that’s really cliché, but I really, truly never thought about it before I went off to college.
Let me set the scene, it was late one night after I’d gotten off the bus from my astronomy lab, which was out in the middle of nowhere. I was back on campus, and the campus lights were on out in the streets, but no one else was near the front of the science building. I went to go get my bike. I thought I was alone.
Ellen’s interest in genealogy began when she started her career at MCPL. She joined our staff in 2006, when we were still in the "old building." She was a big help in our move to the Midwest Genealogy Center in 2008.
Finding an ancestor who was the first U.S. Marshall sworn in, in what was then Oklahoma Territory, has been a high point in Ellen’s research. She ran across his name while searching the surname Degges. There could only be one Cookman Degges, and sure enough, she was able to connect him with her family.
Julie’s start in genealogy came at the insistence of a friend. Julie accompanied her one day to our old location on 24 Highway. This friend showed Julie how to use the Soundex. The Soundex is the method used to index the Federal Census for the years 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. As a note, there are some variations in Soundex coverage for these years. These days, you can find the census indexed on several different websites.
Have you ever had that guttural, "oh no…" feeling when you realize that big paper you were assigned at the beginning of the year will be due in the next week or so, and you haven’t really done much?
We’ve all been there, me more so than I’d like to admit. We all get busy in our lives, caught up in daily activities like friends, family, video games, soccer, disc golf, and the like.
Actually, I had this happen last week! I had to write a 6-8 page paper for my ethical theory class, and I had no clue where to begin. I had a really hard time getting started.
While cleaning out the attic several years ago, Candy found a box of photographs. She began to write older family members to identify who they were and their relationship to her, which started her on the genealogical road. Some were identified; some remain a mystery to this day.
Her most exciting find was her grandmother on a passenger list. Why? Because it was a twenty year search that started with the wrong port. Instead of landing in Galveston, her grandmother actually landed in Baltimore.
On Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the RT Booklovers Convention will be holding their Giant Book Fair. Featuring over 450 authors ready and willing to sign some of your favorite books, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss! Plus, if you flash your library card at the door, you will get the $5 entrance fee waived for showing that you support libraries!
Have you noticed that going to the movies has been a little more magical lately? For every superhero, there’s a princess. For every alien invasion, there’s a roaring dragon. It seems like our childhood bedtime stories have taken over the big screen; fairy tale films are all the rage!
