Sites Like Ancestry Are Often Free Through Your Library

Access Paid Genealogy Databases for Free With This Simple Trick

Looking for a totally free way to access a variety of paid genealogy records, like those provided by Ancestry or MyHeritage, from your own computer?

Well there’s good news, you most likely can. And you might be surprised to hear that the solution is probably only a few clicks away.

An increasing number of libraries are now providing access to genealogy resources free of charge. Many can be accessed directly on their websites — meaning that you can take advantage of the services they offer at home. Others can be accessed at the library itself by bringing along your laptop or tablet and using the library’s complimentary wifi and access portal.

Of course, many libraries are digitizing their own historic records and providing them online for members, which we love, but others are also subscribing to large genealogy research sites and then allowing active patrons to access these sites directly from the library’s website.

Make Instant Discoveries in Your Family Tree Now
Imagine adding your family tree to a simple website and getting hundreds of new family history discoveries instantly.

MyHeritage is offering 2 free weeks of access to their extensive collection of 20 billion historical records, as well as their matching technology that instantly connects you with new information about your ancestors. Sign up using the link below to find out what you can uncover about your family.

Partnerships with ebook services are also making more and more online family history books available, and it is easier than ever to borrow and read them on your tablet, phone or ereader.

Free access to sites like Ancestry, Fold3, World Vital Records or genealogy related ebooks are common and are a great way to save on family history research while supporting your library.

Of course, not all library offerings are the same, but many are providing a wealth of free digital resources as a way to keep the community connected to their local library and retain the funding they need to thrive. While some resources are usually only available when you are at the library itself (like Ancestry Library Edition), we were thrilled to discover that the vast majority of libraries we reviewed were offering access to expensive subscription services completely free of cost to members from their own home computers as well.

Dallas Public Library, for instance, has such a wide selection of genealogy services available online it almost makes you want to relocate to Texas. Smaller library systems may only offer a fraction of the free resources of a larger library–but any free access is helpful.

And even if your library doesn’t hold a certain genealogy book on their shelves, you might find they offer it online. If your library has teamed up with OverDrive or Libby you can easily connect your Amazon account to your library account and read these borrowed books right on your Kindle, or through a Kindle app on your computer, tablet or phone.

If you’re not sure what free digital services your library offers, head over to their website and take a look. Make sure you have your library card handy through, because you’ll likely need your card number to access these types of member only benefits.

20 Billion Genealogy Records Are Free for 2 Weeks
Get two full weeks of free access to more than 20 billion genealogy records right now. You’ll also gain access to the MyHeritage discoveries tool that locates information about your ancestors automatically when you upload or create a tree. What will you discover about your family’s past?

Free access to subscription services is usually as simple as finding your library’s genealogy section, following a special link and entering your library card number.

free access to sites like ancestry

Downloading ebooks is also straightforward once you’ve entered the online borrowing system your library has set up. In most instances, you will need to set up an account with Overdrive or another service through the website link provided by your library and then borrow and download the book type you desire (ie PDF, EPUB or Kindle).

Linking the account to your Kindle, if you have one, is a two-step process that is explained on Overdrive and Libby when attempting to download the Kindle edition.

read books free online library

And don’t forget, if your library doesn’t have what you’re looking for, you can request it! The more requests they get for these types of free genealogy resources the more likely they are to provide them.

Also read: Why Local Libraries and Archives Are Still Vital to Your Research

Image: “Young African American woman,” 1899 or 1900, Library of Congress

Originally published Sept 2015.

12 thoughts on “Access Paid Genealogy Databases for Free With This Simple Trick”

  1. It could be all records of your German family were lost during the Russian invasion in WW II. Many towns were hastily evacuated before they were invaded. I know the town my own ancestors lived in, now a part of Poland, had its local castle demolished and all the tombstones in the graveyard pulled up and used to pave the roads. Sad but true.

  2. Ana Maria Silva daConceição

    Familia Pedretti veio para o Brasil em 1915…veio da Italia…minha avó Ana Maria Pedretti tinha seis anos quando chegou ao Brasil…gostaria de saber a historia da familia Pedretti que veio para o Brasil. obrigada.

  3. Ana Maria Silva daConceição

    Minha vó Ana Maria Pedretti veio da Itália em mais ou menos em 1915… ela tinha a idade de seis anos… eu gostaria de saber a historia de vida da família Pedretti…ficarei muito grata…obrigada

  4. Fold 3 is free this weekend Fri 7:00 am to Mon 7:00 am Jan 22-25, 2016. You may find some there.

  5. (Line 5) Not. Complimentary means that someone said/wrote something nice. Complementary means (in this context) something that is without cost. Google it, if you want.

  6. Have you tried Myheritage.com…14 day free trial. I found many records of my German ancestors on this site and then cancelled before the trial period ended.

  7. I wish there was a way to trace my family history when they lived in Germany for free. My great grand father Bruno Berke was in the German Army world war 1 but I can’t find out anything about him. My Great Grand mother Gertrude Berke’s maden name was Ape and I can’t find out anything about her family either. My great grand mother, Dorthy Berke and my grand mother, Brunhilde Berke emigrated from Germany to the USA November 26, 1923. Can anyone help me find out about my relatives from Germany? Thanks [email protected]

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