Resources for new genealogists

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   Those who are interested in starting research of their family history can visit the Charleston County Public Library's South Carolina Room, says Mary Ann Cawley, its manager. Librarians there specialize in genealogical and historical research and help visitors make sense of those first steps and support them through the intermediate level. 
Those planning to begin the research should have basic information such as names of their parents and grandparents, hometowns and the years they lived in those towns, says Dot Glover, a genealogist on staff there. Genealogy is hard work, but success is rewarding both for the family historian and the staff member. 
The room's collections are helpful for genealogists who have Lowcountry ancestry, and to some extent, those with ancestry elsewhere in South Carolina and adjacent states, librarians there say. 
They respond to anywhere from 50 to 200 inquiries a day about genealogy in person and via Internet and phone. Those account for at least 70 percent and as much as 90 percent of their work, depending on the time of year. 
Among the things beginners learn in the library's South Carolina Room are how to find genealogical information in basic records and use online sources, including Ancestry Library (similar to ancestry.com but free at the library). 

Beginners living in Berkeley and Dorchester counties can start their research at the main Charleston County Library. While Berkeley and Dorchester counties' resources are not as extensive, Berkeley has Ancestry Library, HeritageQuest Online, African American Heritage and ProQuest Civil War Era, which are available to patrons at the library. 
Dorchester also has Ancestry Library. Check with each library on their microfilm and local history collections. 
Getting started
When starting out in genealogy, beginners have three local resources.
South Carolina Room of the Charleston County Public Library
Where: 68 Calhoun St. downtown Charleston.
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 2-5 p.m. Sundays.
Contact: 805-6956.
More: Its staff's strength is helping those with Lowcountry ancestry, but it can frequently assist those with ancestry in adjacent Southern states. 
The Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Where: 1519 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. 
Hours: Research assistance 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Beginner classes: 7-8 p.m. Aug. 12, researching footnote.com and heritagequest.com sites; Sept. 3, familysearch.org, a free and widely read genealogy research site. Both classes have limited seating and registration is required. The center also can assist genealogists who have ancestry throughout the United States and in other countries.
Contact: 766-6017.
South Carolina Genealogical Society's Charleston Chapter
Location: Charleston Masonic Center, 1285 Orange Grove Road. 
Time: 2:30 p.m. third Sundays (except August). The next meeting will be Sept. 19.
More: Members will provide advice to beginning and other genealogists at regular meetings.
Contact: 767-2133.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jul/26/resources-for-new-genealogists/

Edited by PhDig - 7/27/2010 at 10:25am