Family History Month at the Library

Access Genealogy Resources with Your Library Card to Start Researching

Morristown, NJ – October is Family History Month and users of MAIN libraries are encouraged to celebrate their
heritage by researching their ancestors. Library cards from any MAIN library can be used to access a digital
genealogical service from the comfort of their own home or by visiting their local MAIN library. This service is
called MyHeritage, and can be accessed remotely by visiting a library’s website or by going to:

Karen Vaias, Reference Librarian at Bernards Township Library regularly uses MyHeritage with library patrons.
“MyHeritage is a valuable tool we offer to your library community as part of our MAIN‐provided resources,” stated
Ms. Vaias. “The interface is easy to use, and gives our patrons access to billions of documents, photos and public
records. We have an active genealogy group at the library who regularly uses the resource and recommends it to
new attendees.”

Unlike other digital genealogical services, MyHeritage is accessible to library cardholders outside of the physical
library. Phillip Berg, MAIN Executive Director, explained, “When MAIN was choosing a genealogical vendor one of
the top priorities was providing for remote access.” He continued, “Physically visiting the library is not easy or
even possible for everyone and last thing we wanted was a product which could only be used inside a library. With
MyHeritage, residents can research from home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

MAIN was originally created in 1980 when a number of Morris County’s libraries were automated with a shared
computer system. Over time, it has evolved into a full‐fledged public library consortium in and around the County,
which offers its members cost‐sharing opportunities, technical support, and an organizational structure conducive
to collaboration and efficient management of tax dollars.

Containing over 6 billion historical records from the United States and across the globe, MyHeritage Library Edition
enables libraries to provide their patrons with the best genealogy research experience available. MyHeritage’s
smart search features help members of the community make incredible discoveries and break down walls while
researching with features including a multilingual interface, the “Global Name Translation” engine, and searchable
census data dating back to 1790.

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For further information, please contact Phillip Berg, MAIN Executive Director, or visit https://www.mainlib.org.