National Family History Month

Researching your family history can reveal amazing stories and connections.  Old favourites and new attractions will help family history researchers find their past in August when Yarra Plenty Regional Library celebrates its annual Family History Month, part of National Family History Month, with a series of informative and interesting events.

YPRL caters for the popularity of genealogy research and increased information online in recent years with a month dedicated to family history research events.

Victorian Genealogist Susie Zada is welcomed to the library for the first time and will present talks and provide advice on accessing Australian wills and probates and shed light on resources available for Geelong and District.

YPRL is also launching access to the News Vault UK Newspaper package database available free to library members, both in the library and at home with their library card. It includes over ten million digitised pages from fifteen collections including The Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 1842-2003and the Times Digital Archive 1785-2007.

Other attractions include a special family history event for people investigating their Italian family history and a Family History Research day for confident researchers.

YPRL Local and Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon says there are events suitable for both beginners and experienced researchers.

“Our resources and events help people get started or continue research to connect with their past and find out where they’ve come from. We are looking forward to hosting a variety of speakers who are experts in their field including David Weatherill on London Cemeteries and Nicole Llewelyn from Public Records Office Victoria”

She says exploring where you’ve come from can be an enlightening and amazing discovery. “It makes you feel part of a big connected world with a long and interesting history. It helps us understand the journey of our ancestors and appreciate where we are today,” she said.

Some of the free events scheduled include:

• Heirloom and Discovery Day with dawn Davis of Eaglemont Antiques at Mill Park Library on Saturday 3 August from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
•  Share your family photos in a friendly informal gathering over a cuppa at Lalor Library Monday 5 August 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
•  Boost your research skills with an introduction to the Trove and Wikinorthia websites at Rosanna Library Monday 5 August 2.00 pm to 3.00pm
•  Nicole Llewelyn will provide tips on how to best use the resources at Public Records Office Victoria at Mill Park Library on Tuesday 6 August from 10.30am to 11.30am.
•  Susie Zada of the Genealogical Society of Victoria will share ways on how to locate Australian wills and probates at Rosanna Library on Wednesday 7 August from 10.30am to 11.30am.
•  Susie Zada of the Genealogical Society of Victoria will provide tips for researching your Victorian ancestors in Geelong and District at Eltham Library on Wednesday 7 August from 2.00 pm to 3.00pm.
•  Genealogist Jenny Carter will help you get past your genealogical brick walls at Ivanhoe Library on Thursday 8 August 10.30 am to 11.30 am
• Receive a brief introduction to the genealogy e-resources accessible at all libraries at Thomastown Library on Monday 12 August at 11.00 am – 12 noon
• A family history research day for confident researchers who can use a computer will be held at Mill Park Library on Tuesday 13 August 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
• Enjoy a talk and display of items from life in the old days at Diamond Valley Library on Wednesday 14 August 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm
• Do you have family history in the local area?  Wikinorthia is an online repository for local stories.  Learn more at Eltham Library Thursday 15 August 10.30 am – 11.30 am
• Learn to record your life story or someone else’s at a technology workshop and learn what options are available at Mill Park Library on Friday 16 August 11.00 am to 12.30 pm
• Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon will highlight some free genealogy websites at Lalor Library Tuesday 20 August 10.30 am – 11.30 am
• Be inspired with many ideas to share your family history at Watsonia Library Tuesday 20 August 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
• Learn how to get started with your family history at Rosanna Library on Thursday 22 August at 10.30 am to 11.30 am
• Dr. Paolo Barracchi of Co.As.It Italian Historical Society will explain how to research your  Italian Family History at Mill Park Library on Thursday 22 August 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm
• Genealogist David Weatherill will explore London Cemeteries  at Diamond Valley Library on Wednesday 28 August 1.30 pm  to 2.30 pm
• The Lalor Library Just 4 Kids program will make a beautiful paper tree to celebrate their family history at Lalor Library Wednesday 28 August 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm

 Bookings for these events are recommended. Attendees can book online atwww.yprl.vic.gov.au – or phone or visit any branch.

Yarra Plenty Regional Library has many resources for genealogy, including Victorian historical indexes and subscription to Ancestry, Find My Past, Discovery (UK National Archives) and British Newspapers Archives. Learn more atwww.yprl.vic.gov.au or visit your local library.