SouthShore Regional Library Genealogy Resources

Library Hours

The library opens at 10:00 AM

Current Subscriptions to Genealogy Magazines

The library subscribes to three genealogy magazines;  Family Chronicle, Computer Genealogy and Family Tree Magazine. The current editions are located in the library’s magazine shelves. The past editions are located in the Genealogy Room on the last book shelf. Past editions include, Heritage Quest and The National Genealogical Society Journal.

The library has many resources for Genealogy research. Some of the databases and books available are listed below.

DATABASES

Heritage Quest is available to anyone with a current library card, from your home computer as well as in the Genealogy Room. It contains Census Records, Genealogy Books, Revolutionary War Pension Records, US Serial Set and Freedman Bank Records. It can be accessed by following this link Heritage Quest . Click on Heritage Quest and enter your library card number and sign on.

Ancestry is available only at the library. It can be found by going to the Information Gateway then to Genealogy.

News Bank is available from home and in the library with a current library card. It contains some early newspapers as well as more current newspapers, historical documents and the US Serial Set & American State Papers( includes legislation for individuals, you may find a law passed for your ancestor)

Other Databases and User Guides can also be found by going to the Genealogy and History. This is a list of all the databases available including some newspapers and maps. There are some links to databases for other countries and user guides at the bottom of the page. There are links to local societies including our South Bay site.

 MICROFILM COLLECTION

The Tampa library has a Genealogy microfilm collection.

BOOKS

The collection of books in the Genealogy Room does not circulate. It includes research aides such as The Handy Book for Genealogist. There are some genealogy books in the Adult Non Fiction section of the library that can be checked out. These are mostly research “how to” books.

Other books include published record abstracts from several states. As a sample of books available, here is a list of some of the books with Virginia records.

Abstracts of land records of Richmond County, Virginia, 1692-1704 / by Brewer, Mary Marshall. 929.3755 BREWER

Abstracts of the wills and administrations of Northampton County, Virginia, 1632-1802 / by Marshall, James Handley. 929.3755 MARSHALL

Abstracts of the wills and inventories of Bath County, Virginia, 1791-1842 / by Bruns, Jean Randolph. 929.3755 BRUNS

Alexandria (Arlington) County, Virginia death records, 1853-1896 / by Pippenger, Wesley E., 1956- 929.3755 PIPPENGE

Buckingham County, Virginia church and marriage records, 1764-1822 / by Warren, Mary Bondurant 929.3755 Warren

The library catalog can be searched from home for books in the SouthShore branch. A hint for successful searches of specific state records; click on  “title”, type the state name in “keywords in title” block, after the search is complete, go to the “limit by” box on the right side of the page and click SouthShore and click “go” again. This will bring up a shorter list that includes titles in SouthShore branch. There may only be a few titles of certain states because the collection is still growing. Be sure to look at all of the titles listed. The first ones may not show SouthShore.