3 August 2011

Bringing family history alive at Auckland libraries

Researching family history is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing pastimes, second only to fishing.

When it’s cold outside there is no time like winter to hunker down and find out ‘where did I come from?’

Auckland Libraries is offering some exciting activities during August to mark NZ Family History Month.

Auckland Libraries’ Family History Reference Librarian, Seonaid Lewis, is presenting workshops at libraries across Auckland throughout the month.

“It’s an area I have worked in for 16 years and I admit I have an insatiable passion for this field,” says Lewis, who turned her hobby into a career.

The workshops promise to be informative and practical from finding out how to discover your family roots, to harnessing online resources like Facebook, blogs and Ancestry.com.

Based at the renowned Central Auckland Research Centre in the Central City Library, Seonaid will be joined by specialist staff member Maria Hickey.

The regular fortnightly Family History Lunchtime Series at the Central City Library will be stepped up to a weekly event during Family History Month and includes international speakers such as Judy Jones visiting from FamilySearch in Salt Lake City, US, Mark Bayley from the UK, and Carole Riley from Australia.

Find out more about Family History Month, including session times at Auckland Libraries.

Auckland Libraries will also exhibit at the second annual New Zealand’s Family History Fair where Lewis is a guest speaker presenting the seminars ‘The Treasures of the Central Auckland Research Centre,’ and ‘What’s in your genes?’.

The Central Auckland Research Centre holds one of the largest and most comprehensive Family History collections in Australasia. Auckland Libraries also has research facilities available at South Auckland Research Centre (Manukau), North & West Research Centre (Henderson), and Takapuna Library.

ENDS

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