Back to School…Genealogy Edition!

It’s that time of year again! As the younger folks return to school, it is the perfect time to stock up on your genealogy supplies. Just like they must buy school supplies, you have to buy genealogy supplies. Maybe you only need to restock some of the essentials or update your technology. Either way, it is time to take inventory and get ready to go back to genealogy school!

Depending upon how you research your family, you may need physical and/or digital supplies. Every person prefers and needs different things, so a list of the possibilities might be helpful. Do not feel pressured to buy what you will not use. This is just a list of suggestions. Hopefully, this will help you identify what you may need.

Physical Supplies:

• Archival Items
• Binders & Dividers
• Blue Light Glasses
• File Folders & Labels
• Forms
• Magnifier
• Notecards & Sticky Notes
• Pens & Pencils
• Research Logs

Digital Supplies:

• New Computer
• Password Manager
• Scanner & Conversion Tools (or Use Ours)
• Updated Genealogy Software
• USB Drives (or External Hard Drives)
• Website/Databases Subscriptions (or Use Ours)

What other supplies can you think of using? The possibilities are endless really. It is always good to be prepared with all that you will need. That way, you can focus on your research wholeheartedly.

After you get all your supplies, it is time to head back to class! As the weather begins to cool, you will likely be spending more time inside, which is always a perfect time to restart your genealogy, and the learning never really ends for genealogists. There are always new tools and approaches to research that you can explore. Check out Legacy Family Tree Webinars for upcoming and recorded webinars. FamilySearch also offers live webinars and recordings that you can watch. Finally, Allen County Public Library has live webinars and shares some online on YouTube. Of course, you can always subscribe to our monthly Genealogy News for more offerings from local libraries and societies. Finally, don’t forget your textbooks! We have a whole genealogy section filled with helpful guides and resources.

Here’s to another successful year of researching and learning!