This free service provides your on-premise patrons with a customized experience of our recently released Live Roots search and discovery site. Once an account is established for your library, we will configure a variety of special features only available on Local Roots. These features revolve around your geographic location and the local resources (e.g. historical society) that your patrons may have an interest in. They still have full access to the capabilities of Live Roots, so they can search for any geographic location, the customization options just simplifies locating local resources.
There is no fee for registering your organization, but an upgrade is necessary if you wish your patrons to have access to our premium databases, including Family Tree Connection, Town Reports Online and GenWeekly. Our subscription rates are very affordable.
The Local Roots search includes all of the ephemera-based collections at Genealogy Today, including funeral cards, WW2 ration books, vintage mug shots and business cards. Adding access to the premium database will offer patrons access to the extensive collection of Masonic lodge rosters, church member lists, military rosters, railroad employee records, rural school lists, along with a variety of vital records and membership information for smaller clubs and societies.
Local Roots can be configured to automatically adjust links to the major database provider websites, making the experience of transitioning from Local Roots to a paid database seamless.
You will have the option to insert local genealogy-related events into the system, and have those listings integrated into the Discover (what's new) feature. Or you can use this feature to announce the arrival of new genealogy materials in your library.
Librarians and local historical societies will also have the opportunity to take advantage of free transcription services offered by Genealogy Today. Any resources contributed will automatically appear in the Local Roots search results for your patrons, and it will be recognized as a local resource and inform them of the catalog number so they can go directly to the resource. Having your unique local history resources scanned and indexed into Local Roots is also an excellent way to make the resources more accessible to your patrons, while keeping the original documents carefully protected.
I will also work with you to make sure any local resources (e.g. cemeteries) in your neighborhood are cataloged into the system. If transcriptions exist, we can work together to get them included as well.
Just to reiterate, Local Roots is only for on-premise access. Your patrons will NOT be able to access it from their home computer. They will, of course, be able to use Live Roots from any computer.
I have two options for signing up, based on your preference.
Regardless of how your account is setup, you will ALWAYS have complete control of the configuration and can make modifications as often as you like. You are under no obligation to continue use of the service, and may remove it from your computers at any time. Also, upgrading to the premium databases is optional. You will not receive sales calls or badgering e-mails.
I appreciate this opportunity to share this new service with your patrons.
Illya D'Addezio, Owner
Genealogy Today LLC