Handouts for September 8, 2012 Meeting on Road Trip Preparation
ACPL Road Trip Agenda (times and places)
ACPL Visit Tips
ACPL Eateries
ACPL Genealogy Center Maps
ACPL Microtext Map
ACPL Guide for Books
ACPL Handout - Trapp
PERSI-City Directories-Local Histories-Family Histories
Allen County Public Library Visit Tips
[Click here for printable copy of this document]
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Ft. Wayne Indiana is
the second largest genealogy library in the country. Despite its size and vast collection, the
library staff has done an exceptional job of organizing its resources into an
understandable and easily accessible collection.
If this is your first visit to ACPL, or you have not yet visited
the new library building which opened in 2007, CAGGNI believes you will find
the following tips and suggestions helpful. Additionally, since knowledge of
what to expect and preparation in advance promises a rewarding experience, we
hope these tips will make your visit less stressful and even more successful.
Getting There
- Location: The ACPL Main Library is located at 900 Library
Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802; Phone: (260) 421-1200
- Hours:
The library is open Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Friday &
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sunday Noon - 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays during the summer.
- Directions:
For directions to ACPL click on the “Location” tab on the Library’s homepage.
Then click on "Directions" in the white pop-up box which will bring
up Google maps with the address of the library already provided.
- Parking: If you wish to park at the library, a map showing the locations of the public
lots/garage can be found under the "Genealogy" tab; scroll down to
the bottom of the page and click on "Our Location", then in the right
hand column click on "Parking Info".
Parking costs $7.00 and does not provide for in/out privileges. Payment must be made at the kiosk on the
first floor.
- Handicapped
parking: The ACPL Parking map noted above shows a Handicapped Lot at the
corner of Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard. There is also Handicapped parking in the
garage underneath the Library which has elevator access. A handicapped placard or license plate is
required.
What to Bring
Of course you will bring your personal research tools along
with notepaper and writing utensils, but what else might be helpful?
- Laptop:
If you have a laptop, bring it along.
The library has Wi-Fi and you will be able to use your laptop to access
the same information you can from the library computers including the library’s
extensive webpage, subscription databases and catalog without waiting for a
library computer to become available.
- Cable
Lock: Since it is easy to get distracted, the library staff suggests you
bring a laptop cable lock if you will be using your computer at the library.
- Camera:
The library allows the use of digital cameras to “copy” documents.
- Scanner: You may also use your personal scanner -- so
bring your new Flip-Pal along.
- Flash
Drive: All public computers have USB ports.
Information may be downloaded to your flash drive rather than using the
online printer.
- Identification:
You will need to get a Guest Pass to use the library's computers and
identification sometimes is required.
- Small
Paper Pad: The library does not provide paper to jot notes and call numbers
on.
When you ArriveMake
your first stop in the library at the Genealogy Center's
Ask Here desk on the second floor.
- Guest
Pass: At the Ask Here desk request
a Guest Pass which allows you to use the library's computers. They are printed
each morning and have temporary library card numbers on them.
- Book Location
Guide: Pick up the sheet "Location Guide for Books in The Genealogy
Center" at the Ask Here desk. It provides
the stack numbers for materials which are grouped by subject, family histories,
periodicals and oversized. Using the
guide will make locating materials much easier.
- Floor
Plan: A printed floor plan of the Genealogy Center is available at the Ask Here desk. The floor plan has the
stack numbers labeled, so it works in tandem with the “Location Guide” to help you
locate books.
- Reference
Librarians: There is always a reference librarian on duty at each of the Ask Here desks. They are all very helpful. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance.
- Register
Your Family Names: At the Technology
Kiosk in the second room of the Genealogy Center you have the option to
register names your are researching. If
you wish to see what names other patrons are researching, go to www.GenealogyCenter.org.
Things to Know - General
- Photocopies:
Several copiers are available throughout the Genealogy Center. Prints are
$0.10 per page and a "print card" is required which costs $1.00. However, the $1.00 can be used to make
copies. Only $1.00, $5.00 and $10.00
bills can be used to reload the "print card." No coins are accepted. ALWAYS
PUSH THE "FINISH" BUTTON BEFORE AND AFTER YOU MAKE A COPY.
- Book
Carts: Use the small black metal book carts to transport books you wish to
consult to the worktables in the reading rooms.
- Reshelving
Books: The library staff asks you not to reshelve books. Please return books you have used to the
wooden carts located throughout the library or to the gray return shelves
located at the ends of the stack rows. Since books do not circulate, the Genealogy
Department's circulation statistics are based on how many books are reshelved. Information they use to lobby for book and
materials budget.
- Compressed
Shelving: Some of the genealogy materials are stored in high-density or
compressed shelving. Just follow the
directions at the end of each shelf range to electronically "move"
the book stacks. If you are standing between
the book stacks, no one can automatically move the shelving stacks.
- Electrical
outlets: The majority of tables in the Genealogy Center have electrical
outlets to accommodate computers and other electrical equipment. Check to
verify the outlets have power before getting settled.
- Microform
readers: There are about 20 excellent microfilm readers and several other
types of microform readers available. If assistance is needed, a separate MicroText Desk is located near the
microform cabinets.
- Lockers: The
library does not have lockers available for patrons.
Things to Know - Electronic Resources
- Wi-Fi: The
entire library has free Wi-Fi. Just turn
on your computer and from the available wireless networks, click on "ACPL WiFi".
- Public
Library Computers: There are two banks, approximately 40, of public computers available to users in the ACPL
Genealogy Center.
- Printers:
The library computers are hooked up to printers. There is no Wi-Fi printing
from your laptop at this time. You can, however, save images from the databases
to a flash drive on a laptop.
- USB
Ports: All library computers have USB ports. If you forget your flash drive, you may
purchase one at the first floor checkout desk.
- Public
Computers contain: Windows 7; MS Office 2010 including Access, Excel,
PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, and OneNote; IM Clients including AIM express, MSN
web messenger and Yahoo web messenger; and Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox web
browsers.
- Scanners:
Eight public digital scanners are
available in the Genealogy Center on the second floor near the MicroText area. You can scan an image/document and then email
the resulting digital file to your email account or save these scanned images
to your flash drive. There is no charge for the use of the scanners.
Restrictions:
- Genealogy
Center Materials: All resources of the Genealogy Center must be used in the
Center and may not be taken to other parts of the library to be photocopied or
scanned. Materials may not be checked
out or sent via interlibrary loan to other libraries.
- Public
Computers: A public computer can be used with a valid ACPL card or Guest
Pass. There are no time restrictions on use.
If you see a message that time is "expiring" from the computer
you can make a request to extend it.
- Food and
Drink: No food or drink is allowed in the Genealogy Center.
- Cell
Phones: All cell phone calls should be taken in the Great Hall as a
courtesy to other researchers.
Unique and Special Collections at ACPL
- Genealogical
Periodicals: The Center holds the
largest English-language genealogy and local history periodical collection in
the world with more than 6,200 current subscriptions and more than 10.000
titles. Individual articles can be
accessed through a variety of indexes including the PERiodical Source Index
(PERSI).
- City
Directories: The Genealogy Center has more than 48,000 R. L. Polk
directories for cities throughout the US.
Many directories for smaller cities and rural areas produced by other
publishers, as well as a substantial number of micro-published city directories,
are also available.
- Family
Histories: A collection in excess of 55,000 volumes of compiled genealogies
representing research on many North American and European families is available
in the Center.
- US Local
Records: More than 210,000 printed
volumes are testimony to the Center's efforts to comprehensively collect US
genealogy and local history publications. County and town histories, vital,
cemetery, church, court, land, probate and naturalization records are available
for numerous US counties.
- Census
Records: The library has many census records not available on Ancestry.com,
primarily state census schedules taken between census years and non-population
schedules like agricultural, manufacturing, etc., Additionally, they have all surviving
1790-1930 population schedules.
- Newspaper
Collection: A microfilm collection covering large city newspapers
with various date coverage for 17 US
states; a comprehensive collection of Indiana newspapers; and, underground
newspapers from the late 1960s covering 37 US states and several international
locations.
- International
Records: The Genealogy Center is also home to a significant collection of
resources from Canada, British Isles, and Germany. Printed sources for other countries are
limited mainly to guidebooks and references on European nobility and
heraldry.
Preparing for the
Visit from Home
The ACPL has created an excellent online presence and
provides multiple ways to prepare for your visit from home. Take the time to explore each of these
resources prior to your trip.
- Genealogy
Brochure: The ACPL has put together an 8-page PDF guide to its genealogical
collections and it may be viewed and printed by going to http://www.genealogycenter.org/pdf/AboutUsBrochure.pdf
- Online
Catalog: Make use of ACPL's online catalog to determine what resources may
be of use to you. The online catalog is
accessible from the homepage as well as from http://www.genealogycenter.org.
- Genealogy
Center Homepage: ACPL librarians have created a Genealogy Center webpage
which includes information about planning your research trip, a calendar of
genealogical programs, access to online databases and links to other resources
available through the library. http://www.genealogycenter.org/Home.aspx
- Video
Tour: A 15-minute video overview of the facility and orientation of its
resources is a great way to start for those who have not been to the library
before. http://www.genealogycenter.org/Services/Orientation.aspx
- Online
Resources/Electronic Databases: Review the list of electronic databases
available at the library and select which ones you may wish to access during
your visit. Some databases of interest
are (Fold3)/(Footnote), Ancestry.com, New England Ancestors, HeritageQuest Online; Origins Network: British,
Irish & Scots; Archives Unbound and Slavery
and Anti-Slavery: A Transition
Archive, Newspaper Archive and ProQuest Super Newsstand (including 1,200
full-text searchable newspapers).
These can only be accessed within the library.
- ACPL Blog: The
Genealogy Center has its own Blog.
Several times per week, posts are added providing general genealogical
information. Check it out prior to
your trip, perhaps new acquisitions will be highlighted. It can be viewed at: http://www.genealogycenter.org/Community/Blog.aspx
- Library Electronic Newsletter: A free monthly subscription
called "Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library" is
available to anyone interested. It lists information about the
department's collections and useful research tips. Back issues of the
Newsletter may also be viewed. It
requires you to provide your email address which they state on their
website will not be shared with any individual or group. http://www.genealogycenter.org/Community/E-zine.aspx
Amenities
- Cafe: The Library has a Dunkin Donuts within the facility.
It is open Monday - Thursday,
6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Friday 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.;
and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Twice
Sold Tales Bookstore: The shop sells used books at bargain prices. Open the
same hours as the library
- Jeffery
R. Krull Gallery: Exhibit changes every 4-6 weeks. Open the same hours as
the library, admission free.
- Local restaurants:
A 1-page PDF map identifying local "eateries" is available at http://www.genealogycenter.org/pdf/Eateries%202011.pdf
If you take time to prepare in advance, you will have a more
enjoyable visit. You will also have a
much better chance of success. Good
hunting!
August
20, 2012
