As we grumble about the ever-increasing costs of the commercial databases, do you sometimes admit to yourself that you don’t value free sites as much as you should? With a whole truckload of formerly copyright-protected, now freely-available, materials out there, has it been at least a year since you stopped to search the Internet Archive, the Digital Commonwealth, or the Digital Public Library of America? Let’s visit these three and a few additional favorites of mine, old and new, to add to your list of: “When did I last go mining for a free golden discovery in ...?!”

This is a hybrid event, so you may attend in person at the library or attend via Zoom. Registration on Main Line Genealogy Club's EventBrite is required. 

If you require an accommodation that will facilitate your participation, please fill out the library's request form at least three weeks prior to the program. If you have any questions, please contact Sam at ssorensen@tredyffrinlibraries.org.

Linda B. MacIver is an educator, lecturer, librarian and genealogist. She recently retired from a 27- year career at the Boston Public Library where she inaugurated the BPL patron genealogy classes. She taught the multi-week beginners’ genealogy course, organized two extremely popular seasons of the Local and Family History lecture series, and developed the Intermediate Genealogy Summer Lecture series. Linda is the past Secretary and Civil Records Director for Federal Records for the Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC), a member of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists (MSOG), the Essex (MA) Society of Genealogists (ESOG) and the Essex (Eng) Society for Family History (ESFH). She serves as the New England Representative for the Essex (England) Record Office. Linda has a BA in History from the University of New Hampshire, an MEd from Boston University and earned her MLIS at Simmons College. Linda was presented the 2018 Lackey Scholarship award for attendance at the week-long Genealogical Institute for Federal Records (GEN-FED) at the National Archives in Washington, DC. She was also the inaugural recipient of the 2019 “Senior at the Center of Excellence Award” sponsored by Xerox Corporation and the City of Boston.

This program fulfills PA Forward's Information Literacy: "The ability to find, evaluate, use, share, and create content using print and digital technologies and communication networks."