Finding Genealogy Records through WorldCat

[lupaglupa]

The WorldCat website states it has the world's largest library catalog and I don't doubt they are correct. Thousands of libraries across the globe have linked their libraries into WorldCat, with the result that in one place you can search for published works on pretty much any topic. Input your search term and not only will WorldCat respond with a long list of titles, it will let you see where each title is held and how far that is from your home. You can even look at the item to see if the libraries holding it will send it out on an inter-library loan.

I have recommended WorldCat several times before in other threads but never focused on using it for research. I've personally used it quite a bit to explore what items exist for specific locations where my ancestors lived. You can also search by family name or individual. The website has a handy guide for doing genealogy research here:

Genealogy | WorldCat.org

If you’re interested in genealogy or family history, you’re in the right place.

search.worldcat.org

The vastness of the catalog can make the query returns overwhelming. An input of "American Civil War" returns 454,640 items <gulp>. But along each list of returns are ways to narrow your results by, for example, format, author, and publication year. Check a box and get only results that are freely available online through Open Access. WorldCat includes a number of things, like college thesis papers, that are often hard to find.

It's a nifty tool for researchers which, if you haven't used it already, you might want to check out.

WorldCat.org

WorldCat.org is a global catalog of library materials. You can search for books, music, video, articles and much more at libraries near you.

search.worldcat.org

 

[milhistbuff1]

The WorldCat website states it has the world's largest library catalog and I don't doubt they are correct. Thousands of libraries across the globe have linked their libraries into WorldCat, with the result that in one place you can search for published works on pretty much any topic. Input your search term and not only will WorldCat respond with a long list of titles, it will let you see where each title is held and how far that is from your home. You can even look at the item to see if the libraries holding it will send it out on an inter-library loan.

I have recommended WorldCat several times before in other threads but never focused on using it for research. I've personally used it quite a bit to explore what items exist for specific locations where my ancestors lived. You can also search by family name or individual. The website has a handy guide for doing genealogy research here:

Genealogy | WorldCat.org

If you’re interested in genealogy or family history, you’re in the right place.

search.worldcat.org

The vastness of the catalog can make the query returns overwhelming. An input of "American Civil War" returns 454,640 items <gulp>. But along each list of returns are ways to narrow your results by, for example, format, author, and publication year. Check a box and get only results that are freely available online through Open Access. WorldCat includes a number of things, like college thesis papers, that are often hard to find.

It's a nifty tool for researchers which, if you haven't used it already, you might want to check out.

WorldCat.org

WorldCat.org is a global catalog of library materials. You can search for books, music, video, articles and much more at libraries near you.

search.worldcat.org

Worldcat is grand, use it routinely for ILL purposes. ArchiveGrid also has some useful information on holdings separate from Worldcat. Archivegrid.

 

[Library Lady]

@lupaglupa , do you have an account with WorldCat and/or OCLC? I just use the generic way to get into WorldCat. Sometimes it's kind of contrary about loading the list of owning libraries for an item and I wonder if having an account would fix that. I would also particularly love to know how to tell directly from there if an item circulates. If there is something I'm really interested in for myself or others, I often move on to my library's interlibrary loan request page to see what comes up. They currently have OCLC but may be getting something else that ILL says is more "friendly." What perks might I get with an account? This retired shelver needs trained librarian advice.

 

[lupaglupa]

I do have an account, though I don't think it gives me a whole lot of extra functionality.

To see if an item circulates, which is an issue with genealogy books that aren't held many places, you have to click through to the library that holds the item. Sadly, the links aren't always correct so sometimes you nee to search the catalog after linking through. But once you are at the item record you can see the status of the item. Library use only is the usual tag. I have put requests in anyway since my library is really good at getting things, even when they are restricted.

 

[Library Lady]

I do have an account, though I don't think it gives me a whole lot of extra functionality.

To see if an item circulates, which is an issue with genealogy books that aren't held many places, you have to click through to the library that holds the item. Sadly, the links aren't always correct so sometimes you nee to search the catalog after linking through. But once you are at the item record you can see the status of the item. Library use only is the usual tag. I have put requests in anyway since my library is really good at getting things, even when they are restricted.

Thanks for the info, @lupaglupa ! I've seen the "Borrow" button but never paid much attention to it with my thinking being, "I don't have their card, so they won't let me. What's the point?" I guess if I wasn't such a concrete thinker it might have occurred to me "so you can see if they circulate it." I need a facepalm/"well, duh" icon about now.

I played with that feature a bit using a rare vintage book (7 owning libraries world-wide according to WorldCat) that was donated to the environmental nonprofit where I volunteer and was stunned to find that out of the 6 I asked, only one directly told me they wouldn't circulate this 110-year-old book. With the Library of Congress, I had to search their catalogue. They have 2 copies, both off-site, that apparently circulate.

If others, like me, weren't aware that that is what the "Borrow" button can do for you, then this is very valuable information.