| Tracing Your Polish Ancestors |
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| 3. PUBLIC LIBRARIES and DEPOSITORIES |
| Even the most experienced researcher must determine how to identify materials available in a public library or depositories. |
| Begin with the information desk or send for a pamphlet of the building before visiting there. |
| Learn to operate any equipment. |
| Search documents |
| census records state and county records immigrant records newspapers county histories cultural resources map collections migration and settlement patterns telephone directories city directories military records indexes of Federal Census ships' passenger record indexes microfilm collections genealogy online programs |
| Document your information |
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| Photocopy your findings |
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| Ask for help, but be concise. The librarian cannot listen to your entire family history. |
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| Intra-library Loans |
| State Archives |
| Online Genealogical Libraries |
| Learn the holding in your state archive and determine their operating hours so that you can research their collection. Also check their online features. Check the county holdings and place a query to gain information about your family. Check for other researchers by the surnames and place names that they are researching. |
| Many genealogy libraries have websites with search engines. |