The Ann Arbor District Library offers many genealogical research databases including FamilySearch. FamilySearch is a free genealogy record base provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
FamilySearch offers a range of resources on its website. On FamilySearch, one can search genealogy records that have been digitized and indexed and search for records from a particular geographic locations.
Users can also browse the digitized images of records from a particular geographic location and the digitized images of records that have not been indexed. One can also use the family search wiki, join special interest groups in the FamilySearch communities, build a family tree and more.
“FamilySearch just has an amazing number of resources for those of us who are keen to do some genealogy research on our lines or any other lines that you might be researching,” professional genealogist Mary Henderson said in the AADL.TV video titled “Genealogy at Home: FamilySearch.org.”
Search genealogy records that have been digitized and indexed
To gain access to FamilySearch, an individual would need to access familysearch.org and make a free account utilizing a valid email address.
FamilySearch has a wide variety of records available including land, naturalization, census, adoption, vinyl (which includes birth, marriage, and death records) and more.
Browse digitized images of records that have not been indexed
However, it is important to remember that not all of the information on FamilySearch has been indexed.
To find potential records that have not been indexed yet, an individual could search through the catalog for information that could lead to a specific record. Ways to do this is by looking by a range of years, location, or other specific details.
Join special interest groups in the FamilySearch communities
On the other end of this, FamilySearch allows users to look at other genealogies, family lineages created and shared via the platform. Individuals are also able to utilize the interest groups feature to ask questions, help others by answering questions and collaborating.
These message boards are often grouped by location which allows for people who are able to speak different languages or are interested in a certain geographical area to communicate and work together. Users are able to join as many and as diverse a range of message boards as they are interested in.
Other resources
Some resources are only available at a family history center. The family history center in Washtenaw County is located in Saline, MI at 525 E Woodland Dr. Saline, Michigan 48176.
The location is open on Mondays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1p.m. Sometimes this location might close due to holidays or inclement weather so be sure to call ahead using the phone number 1-734-944-4789.