Optimizing Google Searching
· Go to www.google.com in your browser window. (At home, you might want to install the google taskbar, free from google.com, so that you can search from your browser at any time.)
- Searches are not case sensitive. (Ex.: Searching for Nathaniel will match Nathaniel, NATHANIEL and nathaniel.)
Put phrases in quotes (“”)
- Boolean operators
§ Must use all uppercase or symbol
§ AND or + (default operation)
§ OR or | (Ex: smith genealogy hillsborough OR hillsboro)
§ – to exclude words or phrases from search
- ~ (tilde) for synonyms (Ex.: smith haverhill ~ancestry finds ancestry, genealogy and "family tree")
- For more information, see Google for Genealogy.
· Premium (pay) web sites available for free through the library
- Ancestry.com - available at the library (with your library card)
www.krl.org -> Select Search Electronic Resources (on the left side) -> Select Genealogy -> Select Ancestry Library Edition
- HeritageQuest
§ available from anywhere with your library card
www.krl.org -> Select Search Electronic Resources (on the left side) -> Select Genealogy -> Select Ancestry Library Edition
· Historic Books
· PERSI (periodical source index)
· Revolutionary War pension applications
· U.S. Census – all records, but not all years indexed
· Other Web Sites for Genealogy Research
- Go to the BIGS site, Links page for a comprehensive directory of sites with records online (www.rootsweb.com/~wabihs)
- online catalog (includes a lot of details in Notes)
- Research Guides (FamilySearch home page -> Library tab -> Education -> Research Guidance)