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Genealogy: Library Databases

How to Access Library Databases

How to Access Library Databases:

1. Go to the library's website and click on the orange "Research & Learning" button and then on the "Articles, Research & Information" button.

Manatee Library homepage buttons for the event calendar, download & stream, search the catalog, and research & learning

2. From the A-Z Databases list, you can use the subject drop-down menu to filter the list by subject, or you can find the database you are seeking alphabetically.

A-Z Databases main page

3. If you are accessing these databases from outside of the library, you may be prompted to enter your library card barcode number and 4-digit PIN.

Library Databases

FamilySearch

Using FamilySearch

  • It is recommended that you create a FREE FamilySearch account and login using that account. 
  • Manatee Library is an affiliate of FamilySearch, which means you can access millions of additional digital records not available to you from home. Visit any Manatee Library location and log in to a computer with your library card and your free FamilySearch account to access these additional records.
  • After signing in, you have several options to navigate the site.FamilySearch navigation menu

  • Search is the main part of the site you will use to locate genealogy records.  From this tab, you can search records, images, the family tree, genealogies, the library’s catalog, books, and the site’s research wiki. 
  • There are two ways to search: Typing information about your ancestor in the Search Historical Records box or clicking on the map to research by location.

"Search Historical Records" page of the FamilySearch website

  • If you know a certain collection you would like to browse, such as the 1940 U.S. Census, you can also type that in the Find a Collection search box.  This will only search for records in this collection only.

HeritageQuest

Using HeritageQuest Online

  • The home page of HeritageQuest consists of 3 tabs: Search, Research Aids, and Map.

Search, Research Aids, and Maps buttons

  • Click on Search to access census records, military records, city directories, and more.
  • When viewing a record, the page will provide you with information on the individual, a scanned image of the original source when applicable, and a source citation.

1910 U.S. Census search results for Viola Davis

Cemetery record including image of grave marker, and biographical information

  • The Research Aids tab gives you search tips and helpful information on how to get started doing ancestry and genealogy research and how to use the census records and other resources available in HeritageQuest.
  •   The Maps tab allows you to look at maps of all 50 states from 1790-1920 that show how the states and their counties have grown and changed over the years.

NewsBank

Search NewsBank by:

  • typing in your query in the Search box
  • or choosing Advanced Search
  • or choosing among the popular holdings listed at the bottom of the page to browse by date
  • or quickly search for current events, select Hot Topics on the bottom-left side of the homepage

On the search results page, you will see the article title, publication date, and news source. Each result will also give you a preview of the article, specifically showing instances where your search term(s) were mentioned. Use the filters on the left to narrow your results.

The article’s webpage provides additional publication information. Across the top of the article, there are icons you can select to choose citation style, adjust text size, email, print, download, share or save to your NewsBank folder.

Full-Text Archive (Text) example:

Example of a full text article in NewsBank

To view image editions of newspapers (looks exactly like the print newspaper), choose Format in the drop-down menu and enter “image” in the search box. This will show you all newspapers that have scanned images, such as the Bradenton Herald.

The Bradenton Herald

  • Click Bradenton Herald Collection (blue button) from the NewsBank main page.
  • The Bradenton Herald is available in the following digital formats, in addition to the library’s print copies of the 2 most recent months (all locations) and microfilm (Central Library):
    • Full-Text Archive (Text). View and search the text of most articles from 1989 to the present.
    • Daily Edition (Image). View and search a digital copy of the newspaper exactly as it appeared in print, from December 2018 to the present.

Listing of the Bradenton Herald text edition and the Bradenton Herald image edition. A yellow box that says "Daily Edition" highlights the image format.

 

Daily Edition (Image) example:

Example of Bradenton Herald Daily Edition (Image format)