Attention Illinois residents! Some of the best genealogy resources online are available for free through the Try-It! Illinois Database trial October 1 – November 30 2012.
This annual statewide database trial is sponsored by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois State Library. Try-It! Illinois offers library staff and patrons to survey and evaluate a wide variety of electronic resources. Thanks to the partnerships between the Illinois State Library and the participating electronic resource vendors, there is no charge for accessing these databases during Try-It! Illinois.
http://finditillinois.org/tryit/
Due to the nature of this program, libraries are asked not to post the Try-It! Illinois login and password on the Internet, on Web sites or in publicly archived e-newsletters. To access these resources, please contact your local Illinois Library and pick up a login information sheet in person!
Due to the absolutely astounding offering of databases, I’ve compiled a “must see” list of genealogy resources available during the trial:
- African American Heritage
- America`s GenealogyBank
- America`s Historical Newspapers
- America’s Obituaries & Death Notices
- American Broadsides and Ephemera
- Digital Sanborn Maps Geo Edition
- Fold3 History & Genealogy Archives Plus
- Historic Map Works
- Historical Chicago Defender (1909-1975)
- Historical Chicago Tribune (1849 – 1985)
- Historical New York Times (1851 – 2006)
- Newspaper Source Plus
- NewspaperARCHIVE.com (world newspapers from 1700′s onward!)
- ProQuest Obituaries
The Try-It Illinois database trial is a great way for patrons to give libraries valuable observations and feedback regarding online databases. So please let your librarian know what you enjoyed and what tools you found useful!
If you’re looking for an indepth guide to the Try-It Illinois Databases, attend the FPLD Genealogy Club meeting on Wednesday, October 10 at 7 pm. You’ll learn how to naviatage this trial successfully, and what information you can glean from each resource. The Genealogy Club meets in Meeting Room A of the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook. The library located at 300 W. Briarcliff Road, across the street from the post office. Light refreshments will be served.
See you at the library!
Debra
Fountaindale Public Library Genealogy & Research Blog 