USING THE SLPL CATALOG TO DO GENEALOGY SEARCHES

Let’s assume that you are researching ancestors who lived in Madison County, Illinois. How should you go about finding materials in our collection that might aid in that endeavor?

You can find our online catalog here. Click on Catalog, and you will be taken to a page that has a navigation bar with these fields (each has a drop-down menu) near the top of the page:

• Everything     All Fields     [Search box]     Search     Advanced Search

Everything allows you these choices:

• Library Search
• Downloadables

 All Fields allows you these choices:

• Author
• Subject
• ISBN
• Title
• Local Call Number

Search allows a Basic Search. You can then:

Limit Search Results

• Books
• Serials
• Other
• Electronic Resources
• Microform    

You can also opt to do an Advanced Search, which allows you these options:

Find items that have:

• All these words:
• This exact phrase:

Don’t show items that have:  

• These unwanted words:

Additional limits:

• Format type
• Language
• Preferred pick-up      

Doing a Basic Search for genealogy gives these results (search terms are in italics):

• Everything>>>All Fields>>>genealogy----- 15,260 results
• Everything>>>Subject>>>>genealogy------ 10,074 results
• Everything>>>Title>>>>>>genealogy------- 1,155 results

These results tell us that changes in drop-down menu choices can in fact bring about major changes in our search results.

Let’s try to locate some items that may help us research those Madison County, Illinois ancestors (remember, case does not matter in our search terms).

• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois genealogy----- 17 results
• Everything>>>Subjects>>>madison county illinois genealogy----- 13 results

As you can see, it’s probably best when searching for genealogical materials relating to a particular county to stick with Everything and All Fields.

Changing one of our search terms can change our search results:

• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois genealogy----- 17 results
• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois history----- 10 results
• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois maps----- 6 results
• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois biography----- 5 results
• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois family----- 3 results
• Everything>>>All Fields>>>madison county illinois newspapers----- 2 results

You can also do this more general search:

• Everything>>>All Fields>>>”madison county” illinois ----- 83 results

As you can see, it fetches more search results, but includes many reports of government offices that may not be of interest to the genealogist.

By the way, search terms provided above can also be used when searching Worldcat.org,  should you choose to cast a wider net (Worldcat.org searches the catalogs of 10,000 libraries worldwide, including SLPL).

LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR...

If you can get a free card with any of the above libraries, you are also eligible to get a free card at the other two libraries, thanks to the magic of reciprocal borrowing agreements...

HERE YESTERDAY, HERE TODAY, HERE TOMORROW!

BE AN SLPL VOLUNTEER!

 Volunteer applications are available at all of our Branches. Adults interested in volunteering should return the completed application to the Branch so the application can be processed which will take approximately two weeks. Anyone over the age of 18 will be subjected to a background check. Volunteer duties vary by location.

Teens can also volunteer! Starting at age 13, teens can ask for an application from a Youth Services Department staff member in the Branch where they would like to volunteer. The application form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and the two reference sheets can be completed by a teacher, minister or adult family friend.

LINK

You can also find additional info about volunteering here.

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY BLOGS

Whatever your particular passion might be, it's likely that one or more of our baker's dozen of blogs will provide information of special interest to you:

LINK

SLPL DOWNLOADABLES

St. Louis Public Library offers several types of downloadable and digital materials to enhance the electronic library experience. With a valid library card, patrons have the option to download eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, television episodes, eMagazines and even free music. The number of items we offer increases daily – check often for new titles!

SLPL Downloadables Page

A quick PDF guide for getting started with SLPL’s Downloadables is available below:

BLOGS, BLOGS, AND YET MORE BLOGS...

Sure, you love this blog--but SLPL has lots of other blogs to love:

SLPL Blogroll

URBAN EATS

Make plans to swing by Central Library on August 12 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of Urban Eats Café Central.

The Grand Opening promises to be lots of fun. For starters, we’re not having an old-fashioned ribbon-cutting ceremony. We’re having a super-sized, stuffed muffin cutting to be handled by Mayor Francis Slay. The mayor, other dignitaries, and you will get to sample the “ceremonial muffin” and other items from Urban Eats Café Central’s eclectic selection of smoothies, coffee & tea, wraps, salads, snacks, and treats.

In addition, pianist Jerry Robushka will tickle the ivories, and a commemorative work of art from a local art guild will be presented to Café management. All in all, a great way to spend your lunch hour!

Located in west wing of the Locust Street Atrium, Urban Eats Café Central features many of the same tasty foods and drinks with an ethnic twist that St. Louisans have come to love at Urban Eats’ south city location.

The food is savory, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the setting is unmatched. Urban Eats Café Central is the perfect place to recharge your body and mind.

To find out more about everything that Urban Eats Café Central offers, including catering and box lunch service, or to place an order, call 314-206-6723.

For more info

MUNY KIDS

SORKINS DIRECTORY OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT

The Sorkins Missouri business database has been added to SLPL.org--you can now access it from home! You'll find the link under the "Business" heading on our Databases page:

Sorkins Directory of Business and Government

What is Sorkins Directory of Business and Government?

Sorkins is the largest publisher of comprehensive regional databases in the U.S.

What do we mean by Comprehensive Business Profiles?

When you name a major city, everyone knows the largest public companies which produce well known products. There are only 4000 public companies in the country. No one else--except Sorkins--covers these companies providing the best coverage available for the other 99% of the area's economy.

Sorkin’s coverage includes:

Complete editions for the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Chicago metro areas.

Detailed listings include:

* Company name & parent company name
* Company headquarters & major locations in the region
* Detailed descriptions (of whatever length necessary) that tell the company story
* Executives, managers, officers, and boards
* Encompasses everyone in charge of sales, marketing, public purchasing, human resources, logistics, and information technology
* Companies indexed by proprietory industry codes.
* Sorkins Directory of Industry Categories (SDIC's), as well as, the widely used SIC/NAICS industry codes.

Search Capabilities include:

* Search by keyword
* Ability to look up a person and find all of their companies and board memberships
* The family tree of a company
* Saving companies
* Selecting & Sorting

CIO ONLINE

You can now read our monthly newsletter (Check It Out!) online:

CIO ONLINE

CENTRAL LIBRARY TOURS

Have you taken a tour of Central Library since our massive renovation was completed? If not, you've got a treat in store:

CENTRAL LIBRARY TOUR INFO

SLPL ONLINE EXHIBITS

Have you checked out our online exhibits? There's sure to be something of interest:

SLPL ONLINE EXHIBITS

ONLINE LEARNING WITH SLPL

Gale Courses offers a wide range of highly interactive, FREE courses that St. Louis Public Library cardholders can take entirely online. You can enroll in courses with your library card. Courses run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month. You can take up to six courses per session, with no annual limit.



The following list includes just some of the courses offered (I picked some likely to be of special interest to genealogists / professional genealogists /society officers).

• Accounting Fundamentals
• Accounting Software
• Database Management
• Digital Photography
• Graphic Design
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Multimedia
• Peachtree Accounting
• Personal Finance & Investments
• QuickBooks
• Start Your Own Business
• Web Design

Online Learning Start Page

GFH GOES GREEN

Hello to all,

Gateway Family Historian is going green. The current issue of SLPL’s genealogy magazine (Vol. 13, Nos. 1-2; Alabama) was just published, and it will be the last print issue. Persons currently on our mailing list will receive a print copy as usual.

Our next issue, however, will be all-electronic. We have already begun the sign-up process for the digital edition. If you are interested, send an email to tpearson@slpl.org with RE: DIGITAL GFH in the Subject Line. That’s all you need to do!

Many thanks to all our print subscribers, especially those of you who have been with us since the beginning (2001).

Tom Pearson, Co-Editor
Gateway Family Historian

ONLINE LEARNING @ SLPL.ORG

Online Learning page on SLPL website

BOMBER COMMAND

Available for checkout from Central Library's History & Geography Room:



More recent books on this subject

BOOK DONATIONS

Like many people, you don’t want to simply throw books away. You feel that someone will want to read them. And you think that the best place for your books is the public library.

St. Louis Public Library in fact gets offered numerous book donations. So many, in fact, that we simply cannot take them all. This does not mean we don’t think your books are valuable. Of course we do. We are a library! We truly want to help you find a home for your books. A number of organizations in the St. Louis area accept book donations. Some of them can be found here.

As the St. Louis Public Library, we are interested in preserving the history of St. Louis; in building collections that document its history. So we are interested in getting materials about or related to the St. Louis region. An example--we get many requests for St. Louis City high school yearbooks. We have many for various City high schools (past & present) but we have gaps. We would love for people to contact us to see if they have just the ones we need to fill these gaps.

Do you have other St. Louis books or materials? St. Louis neighborhood material, books by local authors, works on St. Louis businesses are other categories that we look for. If you have St. Louis books or materials, check with us.

We also know that some of you may have collected on specific subjects for years, carefully compiling a collection that cannot be found elsewhere. The Library will also consider donations of such unique collections that can complement items we already have. Examples are African-American materials, sheet music, architectural subjects, and family and county histories.

To find out if you can help us-–or if we can help you--call our Collection Development Department (314-539-0330) or Special Collections (314-539-0399).

Book donation form

WIRELESS WEB

There are now 14 open wireless hotspots to choose from!

St. Louis Public Library offers Open Wireless Web access at these locations:

* Central Library
* Central Express
* Baden
* Barr
* Buder
* Cabanne
* Carondelet
* Carpenter
* Divoll
*Julia Davis
* Kingshighway
* Machacek
* Schlafly
* Walnut Park

From your wireless enabled device you can connect to the ‘SLPL’ wireless network and enjoy the convenience of high-speed web access at any of these 14 locations.

There is no card number or password requirement. Simply connect, and you are free to browse the Web!

Please note that if you need to print documents, you may reserve one of the Library’s computers; or you may register to use our Mobile Print services. For more information on Mobile Printing, ask one of our staff members for assistance.

For details on our Wireless Connectivity ask a staff member for a bookmark flyer at any of our branches.

CENTRAL LIBRARY PARKING

Downtown is busy with shopping, sporting events, restaurants, concerts, and Central Library! We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get to us. There is a large lot at Olive Street and 15th Street available for free parking for those using Central Library. A parking token is needed to raise the gates when exiting. Tokens are available at the Olive Street and Locust Street Issue Desks within Central Library. Check at either desk when you arrive.

If you are parking at a meter, the meters are monitored from 8am until 7pm Monday through Saturday. The meters accept nickels, dimes and quarters. Quarters are your best choice as they are good for 20 minutes. The meters are good for a maximum of 2 hours at a time.

There are also numerous parking lots in the downtown area with various rates.

If you have any questions, please call 314-241-2288 or Ask A Librarian.