Genealogy Lock In

A Genealogy Lock In will be held on Friday, October 2nd at the Omaha Public Library, 215 S. 15th Street in Omaha, Nebraska. It is sponsored by the library and the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society (GOGS). On that evening after the library is locked, genealogists will be doing serious research. The doors to enter will be locked before 6:30 p.m. on October 2nd, so genealogists need to arrive before then. They can leave at any time, even though the Lock In ends at 9:30 p.m. In order to remain in the library after the doors are locked, genealogists need to have a name tag which they can secure by e-mailing, Sahara346@aol.com.

There will be coffee and cookies to keep genealogists going for three hours of intense research. There will also be a donation jar to help pay the guard's salary. If you don't live in the Omaha Public Library's area (have a patron card), you and get a one-day guest card for $2. Cards from Council Bluffs or Lincoln libraries will be accepted. The card allows you to use the computers and receive five free copies.

Ahead of time it would be a good idea to check out the card catalog and have a research plan. Here are some good reasons why you should attend the Lock-In:

1. two librarians on duty to help genealogists

2. fourteen computers with Ancestry.com and other genealogy web sites

3. over 8,000 genealogy books in the book room

4. marriage microfilm from about 20 Nebraska counties; mostly about 1900, but much later for Douglas and Sarpy counties

5. historical Omaha newspapers on microfilm

6. genealogy newsletters from over 125 genealogy societies around the country

7. complete set of Germans to America and other ethnic immigration book sets

8. complete set of Omaha City directories (and several other cities on microfilm)

9. obituary clipping file, 1977 through June 2008

10. naturalization index for Nebraska and some 60 plus Iowa counties (alphabetical)

11. Internet databases on several Douglas County cemeteries

12. church records from several Omaha historic churches - microfilm

13. historic clipping file on Omaha history and people (only accessible by asking librarians)

14. GO-PAF people available to answer genealogy computer problems

15. GOGS volunteers available to help solve genealogy problems

Sounds like fun. I bet at 9:30 there are some wanting to stay longer. I hope it is a great success.