Reminder: Our Next Genealogy Program at STDL Is Tomorrow May 14, 2013

Hi Everyone!

It is that time once again when we will be having another Genealogy Program at the central location of the Schaumburg Township District Library on Tuesday evening, May 14, 2013 at 7:30 PM.  We are located at 130 S. Roselle Road in Schaumburg, IL.

There is no pre-registration required in order to attend the program.  There is no fee charged to attend.  Anyone can attend this program.  You do not have to be a library card holder with the Schaumburg Township District Library in order to attend.

Here is a summary of the information about the program:

The Genealogy program will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 7:30 PM in the 2nd floor Classroom. The guest speaker for the evening will be Sarah A. V. Kirby. Sarah will present a program titled “Free Digital Books: More Than Just Google”.Sarah will present an overview of some of the websites which have large collections of free digitized genealogy texts and how to use them. Also includes a few sites which index other sites.

Sarah has been researching her family since 1994 and has had a surname website since 1997. After obtaining her MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Science) in 2003, she began moving towards professional genealogy. She is currently a member of APG, NGS, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and several other local and regional societies. Miss Kirby has been on the APG’s Publications Advisory Committee since early 2007.

The doors to the room will open at approximately 7 PM so participants can pick up any handouts, review books and journals and interact with other participants. Tony Kierna, the STDL genealogist, will start the program at 7:30. Introductions of new participants will occur as well as a brief review of handouts and genealogical matters. It is expected that the guest speaker’s presentation will start at around 7:45-8:00 PM. We will end the session by 9:30 PM.

For further information contact Tony Kierna at 847-923-3390.
Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library

DuPage County Genealogical Society (DCGS) Announces Its Genealogy Programs for 2013-2014; View The Schedule From The Embedded PDF

Hi Everyone!

I just noticed at the DuPage County Genealogical Society (DCGS) website that they now have their genealogy program schedule for September 2013 through May 2014.  Programs for the society take place between September Through May each year.  The society does not offer any programs during the summer months of June, July and August.

You can view their upcoming schedule on the following embedded link to a PDF  at:

DuPage County Genealogical Society (DCGS) Genealogy Program Schedule For 2013-2014

Also, just visit the DCGS website to see what they are all about and what nice resources they have at their site for you to discover.  If you have any DuPage County, IL ancestral connection, you may want to consider joining the society to access even more resources through the society’s site.  You can always also see upcoming activities and events for the society at their website.  Look for the link on the left side noted as “Events”.  You can visit the DCGS web site at:

DuPage County Genealogical Society

Take a look at their programming list for 2013-2014 and plan your genealogy program attendance at DCGS starting in September 2013.

They have many interesting programs on their schedule.  Increase your genealogy knowledge and skills.  Attend one of their programs.

Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library

Upcoming History/Genealogy/Cultural Events From The Swedish American Museum Starting With The Week Of May 6, 2013

Hi Everyone!

I have been receiving some activities updates from the Swedish American Museum in Chicago, IL recently.  Some of the activities may be specifically related to genealogical events or programs.  Other events may have a historical context as it applies to Swedish history and ancestry.  Some events may be cultural.

I thought I would share with you what I have been receiving as a link to what I received via e-mail.

The museum itself is located at 5211 North Clark Street in Chicago, IL.  The phone number for the museum is 773-728-8111.

It actually looks like there is plenty to do if you are interested in discovering more about Swedish history and ancestry.

There is a genealogy program scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  The title of the program is “Will the Real Sven Larsson Stand Up” presented by Dr. Daniel Hubbard.  The Museum is co-sponsoring the program with the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois (CAGGNI).

Go to the following link and take a peek at all that you could be doing starting during the week of May 6, 2013 at the Swedish American Museum:

Activities And Events At The Swedish American Museum In Chicago During The Week Of May 6, 2013

See what interests you.  Make a connection with the society if you are digging deep into your Swedish roots.

Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library

Our Next Genealogy Program Is Coming Up On Tuesday Evening May 14, 2013 At 7:30 PM

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would post this reminder of our next upcoming Genealogy Program at the Schaumburg Township District Library.

There is no pre-registration required in order to attend the program.  There is no fee charged to attend.  Anyone can attend this program.  You do not have to be a library card holder with the Schaumburg Township District Library in order to attend.

Here are the details of our upcoming program for Tuesday evening, May 14, 2013:

The Genealogy program will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 7:30 PM in the 2nd floor Classroom. The guest speaker for the evening will be Sarah A. V. Kirby. Sarah will present a program titled “Free Digital Books: More Than Just Google”.Sarah will present an overview of some of the websites which have large collections of free digitized genealogy texts and how to use them. Also includes a few sites which index other sites.Sarah has been researching her family since 1994 and has had a surname website since 1997. After obtaining her MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Science) in 2003, she began moving towards professional genealogy. She is currently a member of APG, NGS, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and several other local and regional societies. Miss Kirby has been on the APG’s Publications Advisory Committee since early 2007.

 The doors to the room will open at approximately 7 PM so participants can pick up any handouts, review books and journals and interact with other participants. Tony Kierna, the STDL genealogist, will start the program at 7:30. Introductions of new participants will occur as well as a brief review of handouts and genealogical matters. It is expected that the guest speaker’s presentation will start at around 7:45-8:00 PM. We will end the session by 9:30 PM.

 For further information contact Tony Kierna at 847-923-3390.

Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library

Genealogy Program At Indian Trails Public Library District In Wheeling, IL On Monday, June 3, 2013 At 7 PM; “The Ellis Island Experience” Presented By Dan Niemiec

Hi Everyone!

I just received a notice from Celeste Kuta, an Adult Reference Librarian, that the Indian Trails Public Library District will begin offering genealogy programs.

Celeste has indicated that the library’s kick-off  genealogy program will take place on Monday evening, June 3, 2013 at 7 PM.

The library is located at 355 S. Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling, IL.   The phone number for the library is 847-459-4100.  You can find the library online at:

Indian Trails Public Library District in Wheeling, IL

The speaker for the program will be Dan Niemiec.  Dan will present a program titled “The Ellis Island Experience”.

Dan will share a historical view at what our ancestors went through to leave their homeland for a new life across the ocean. Using this historical background can add to your ancestors’ family story when they aren’t around to describe what they went through.

Dan has been a frequent speaker at our own library to present genealogy programs.  He is very knowledgeable about genealogy and always brings in some funny moments throughout his presentations!  I have not had him here for that program as of now.  Looks like a future booking could be in the works at our library!

We wish Celeste and the Indian Trails Public Library District all the best as they embark on offering genealogy programs to the public.

So for all local geneaholics, there is now one more location close by that will begin offering genealogy programs that you can take in!

Mark your calendar for the date and help the Indian Trails Public Library District kick-off its inaugural genealogy program on Monday evening, June 3, 2013 at 7 PM.

Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library

New Poll On Right Sidebar Of The Blog; Simple Question Being Posed; “Have You Actively Collaborated Your Research With A Fellow Researcher On Some Common Family History Research?”; “Yes” Or “No”?

Hi Everyone!

Well, here goes another Poll that is now on the right sidebar of the blog right at the top of the blog homepage.

I am just asking for a simple response to a very basic question.

“Are You Actively Collaborating With Other Researchers On Some Common Family History Research”  Yes or No

Simple, direct and to the point.

Researching “solo” had been the traditional method of research for many years probably because the technology that facilitated ease of communication did not exist.  Research of the 1980′s and earlier meant a lot of dedicated time to making calls, writing letters, visiting libraries and archives.  Cousins you knew of may have lived far from you and even communicating by phone at that time meant incurring “long distance” charges on your phone bill!  So you just did not readily have the ability to inexpensively communicate.

Then the Internet was born for general users in the early 1990s.  WOW!  An explosion of communicating was soon to take place, firstly by using e-mail.  If you had a computer and a cousin had a computer you could now bypass the post office and share information.  You could even add “cc” recipients or multiple direct recipients.  No longer were you going to incur postage charges, paper charges or envelope charges to connect with cousins.

Social Media was born.  Facebook.  Twitter.  YouTube.  Skype.

Our relatives and potential “collaborators” are now right at our fingertips, whether they live next door to you or half way around the world.  You can connect instantly through technology.

You can now feel more connected to “family” than ever before.  The more family members engage on solving family history problems, the more can be discovered and the more old problems can be put to rest in terms of research!

Have you connected with a “cousin”?  Are two of you or three of you or ten of you now working together to expand your family history research exponentially?

Take a look at the new Poll.  Consider providing a reply.

Let’s see how active this poll can be.

The more the merrier!

Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library

Poll On The Right Sidebar Has Been Closed For “Have You Uploaded Your Family History Research To Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, RootsWeb.com, Geni.com etc.?”; Results Indicated

Hi Everyone!

It is amazing that almost 2 months has passed on the life of the poll I had on the right sidebar of the blog since March 6, 2013.  It is time to move on!  I think a new poll question is in order!

The poll had asked the question whether you have uploaded your Family History research to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, RootsWeb.com, Geni.com etc.?

The results of the poll showed the following from the 34 total respondents that took the brief time to provide their “Yes” or “No” response to the question.  The numbers show that 24 responses noted they had uploaded their Family History research (70.59%) while 10 responses indicated they had not uploaded their Family History research (29.41%).

I will say, there were fewer respondents in this just closed poll than there were in the previous poll before this!  YIKES!  I don’t like to see DECLINING numbers.

I am still looking for a larger response than even that which I just saw!  So come on down ——  affix your opinion as a “Yes” or “No” when so asked to the varied polls on different topics in the world of genealogy and family history research.  Your answers count.

I plan on putting up a new poll rapidly.  Come back for that one to see the new question being asked.

A big thank you to all of those that took the time to respond to this just recently closed poll.  Take a look at the results of that poll to satisfy your own curiosity.

Don’t forget to visit my Poll Archives as part of this blog.  Look for the link at the top of the homepage of the blog where it simply says “Poll Archives”.  In here you will find the statistical results of the 10 previously active polls in addition to the poll that is generally “active”.  If you were not aware of this Archive, you may want to visit to see what all the previous polls were about.

Here is a direct link to the Poll Archives at my blog:

Poll Archives At Tony’s Genealogy Blog At The Schaumburg Township District Library (STDL)

Get ready for another poll ……………………..SOON!

Tony Kierna
Genealogy Coordinator
Schaumburg Township District Library