MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 7 July 2010

Yarra Plenty Regional Library Caters for Genealogy Popularity

Genealogy research at the library has doubled in popularity in the past three years, according to
YPRL’s Local and Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon.
Family history researchers will converge upon Lalor, Thomastown and Mill Park libraries in
August when YPRL celebrates its annual Family History Month, which incorporates National
Family History Week, with a series of informative and interesting events.
Ms. Pidgeon also credits some of the increase in family researchers to the popularity of new
television shows like Find My Family and Who Do you Think You Are?. “These shows have
definitely made people think about family history and piqued their interest in discovering details
of past generations.”
• Confident genealogy researchers can attend a special Family History Research Day at
Mill Park Library on Tuesday 3 August from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Presented in
partnership with the City of Whittlesea’s Cultural Heritage Program, the event includes
access to databases including Ancestry and Times Digital Archives, historical indexes
and more.
• YPRL presents an introduction to the popular Ancestry Database for people who are
interested in discovering their family history, as well as those who have already started
researching, at Lalor Library on Tuesday 17 August at 11.00am – 12.00noon.
• People with an interest in starting to research their family history will benefit from the
Starting Your Family History event at Thomastown Library on Monday 23 August from
11.30am to 12.30pm. Tip sheets will be provided.
• A special event on Monday 30 August from 1.00pm until 2.30pm at Mill Park Library will
focus on researching Italian family history. This event is also presented in partnership
with the City of Whittlesea’s Cultural Heritage Program
Yarra Plenty Regional Library has many resources for genealogy research, including historical
archives and a subscription to the popular genealogy website Ancestry that can be accessed
from within the libraries.
“The library is a great place to make first steps in researching family history as well as continue
research for more experienced researchers,” Ms. Pidgeon says.
Bookings are required for events. Attendees can book online using Eventbrite – go to
www.yprl.vic.gov.au/Calendar – or phone or visit any branch.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
• An interview and photograph with a local family history researcher.
• YPRL Local and Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon is available for interview
 -ENDS-

For further information:

Suzanne Male
Marketing & Media Coordinator
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Phone: 9401 0755
Email: smale@yprl.vic.gov.au