CLOSURE: Central Library will be closed Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 25, while emergency repairs are made to the building’s cooling system. We expect to reopen Monday, July 27. Click for more details on holds, program schedules, and returns during the closure. 

Local History

New Genealogy Databases!

The local history staff is thrilled to announce the addition of three databases to our offerings for genealogy research – HeritageQuest, Fold3, and Newspapers.com.

HeritageQuest is an old friend that was available for years at KPL. It had been provided through MEL, but last year was replaced by My Heritage. We’re happy to have it back because it’s a great source of census records, as well as historical census maps. The U.S. Freedman’s Bank Records are also a highlight of HeritageQuest, and all of this is available through home access using your library card.

Fold3 has a special focus on military and other government records. It is the go-to place for pension indexes, draft registrations, Veterans Affairs death files, and countless other documents related to citizens who both served or lived during times of war. Fold3 is also available for home access.

Newspapers.com can only be accessed by coming into the library, but it is well worth the trip. With nearly 500 million pages of historical newspapers from close to 12,000 newspapers, it’s no surprise that Newspapers.com is the largest online newspaper archive. Stop in and browse it and the other databases the library offers for genealogy research. You’re certain to make some great discoveries!