52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Challenge 5

Again, I mention the 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy. Amy Coffin (www.wetree.blogspot.com) has put together a great series of weekly blog prompts to help those new to genealogy and those who would like to strengthen some genealogy/family history skills. These prompts are listed on www.geneabloggers.com -- a valuable shared community resource.

Wow! This is new to me. How about you?

Here is this week’s challenge:
Play with WorldCat.org. WorldCat is a massive network of library content that the public can search for free (user name and password not required). Not every library is a part of WorldCat, but the vast size of the network makes it an important genealogy tool. If you are looking for a specific book or publication, enter the identifying information into the WorldCat search box and see which libraries hold the item. You may even find that you can get the item through your library’s inter-library loan program. Don’t forget to search for some of your more unusual surnames and see what comes up. The goal is to play with WorldCat and examine its possibilities for your own research. If you’re already familiar with WorldCat, play with it again. The network and collection grow and change constantly. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experiences with searching WorldCat for this exercise.

This challenge runs from Saturday, 30 January 2010 through Friday, 5 February 2010.

Thanks to Amy for helping us strengthen our genealogy/family history skills.

Don’t forget to go to www.geneabloggers.com to see other posts about this challenge.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I am listed on the Genea Bloggers Blog Roll because I find it to be a valuable, shared community resource. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”