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Today is: Tuesday, February 09, 2010
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Genealogy Help
What is Genealogy?
Genealogy is the study of family lineage. Genealogy developed when a connection to royalty was important. It was used to determine one's place in government and society. Today most genealogical research is done to satisfy a curiosity over one's own heritage.
Genealogical research is a slow moving process. Original documents must be located to verify names, dates and events. Records of birth, death, marriage, and military service are primary sources for this.
Primary sources in the Altoona Area Public Library include U.S. census data and local newspaper archives. We have historical city directories and local high school yearbooks. Other tools are bibliographies, indexes, general directories, guidebooks, and journals related to genealogy.
Where do I start?
Below are links to aid your genealogical research in the Altoona Area Public Library. It is not a listing of all titles available. It is a guide to locating the items you may need.
General Encyclopedias
Census Data
Web Sources
Encyclopedias About Genealogy
Periodicals/Newspapers
Local Organizations
Bibliographies
Yearbooks
Guide Books
Records
Indexes
Maps
Directories
Help the Altoona Area Public Library earn money. Just use "GoodSearch" to do your internet searching. It is a free search engine that you can add as a toolbar to your browser. Everytime you do
a search using the "GoodSearch" search site or toolbar the Library earns money. Just click on the logo to get started, then search or click on "Get the GoodSearch toolbar or add us to your search box".
Ask Here PA is Pennsylvania's new statewide live chat reference service. Ask Here PA is a free service to all residents of Pennsylvania, offering live chat reference
24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Click the image to visit Ask Here PA.
POWER library allows you to access thousands of full text periodical articles, newspapers,
a major encyclopedia, plus photographs, pictures, charts, maps, reference materials and more.
You will find materials of interest in most subject areas for all age groups from young children to adults. Click the image to visit Power Libraries.
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and follow events all through Facebook!
The Resident Council of IDA's Blair Tower donated $200.00 to the Altoona Area Public Library in support of the Outreach Services that the Library provides to its residents. Each week, the Library provides an on-site visit with books and audio visual material for residents to borrow as well as a book club. Pictured above are: (seated) Peg Bailey, Vice President/Secretary of the Resident Council, Georgianna Wike, President of the Resident Council, and Peg Flick, Treasurer: (standing) Ruth Begley, Jennifer Knisely from the Altoona Area Public Library, Maxine Adams, and Jane Eamigh.
Peter Wolf, Trustee of the Wolf-Kuhn Foundation, presents a check to
Sonia Keiper and Tim Salony, members of the One Book Blair County committee.
The Foundation's gift will support the poetry activities for children, teens
and adults which are planned for April 2010 around the theme of HOPE. A
number of activities have been planned including a county-wide poetry contest,
a poetry workshop, and poetry readings, including a reading by Becky Foust
from her work Mom's Canoe. Ms Foust is a published poet and a former resident
of the area. Peter Wolf will present a lecture on the relationship between
poetry and philosophy.
For contest information email: onebook@altoonalibrary.org
Photo Left to Right: Tim Salony, Blair County Library System Administrator; Sonia Keiper, Altoona Area Public Library Assistant Director; Peter Wolf, Wolf-Kuhn Foundation Trustee
Friends of the Altoona Area Public Library, Ann Wolf and Helen Gorsuch, present a check for $10,000 to Debbie Weakland, Altoona Library Executive Director. The check represents the proceeds from a recent USED BOOK SALE. All of the Friends of the Library thank their patrons who support the Used Book Sales, which in turn, support programming and services for everyone to enjoy at the Library.
Photo: L to R Helen Gorsuch, Friends Treasurer; Debbie Weakland, AAPL Executive Director; Ann Wolf, Friends President