dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2950
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:27 pm
Post subject: U.S. Federal Census on Heritage Quest Online
Heritage Quest Online, which can be can be accessed gratis from home with a library card, announced an update to the site beginning tomorrow, March 4. Among other things, the site will have images of all the Federal Censuses from 1790 through 1940 together with more complete name indexes. Heritage Quest has long been a good alternative to subscription sites for census returns and it appears that beginning tomorrow it will be better and more complete. One thing which will not change is that it will still be free and accessible from home.
Dave
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PolishLibrarianPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Replies: 323
Back to top |
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:53 pm
Post subject:
Dave~ Wearing my public librarian's hat, even though I'm retired, I just need to clarify your statement. Your local public library does need to subscribe to Heritage Quest Online (pay a fee to gain access to it for their library cardholders), before you can use your library card to access it for free from home. So check your local public library to see if they offer access to Heritage Quest Online.
In my state, my local public library does not subscribe to Heritage Quest Online, but does subscribe to Ancestry Library Edition which is free to users too. The only difference is Ancestry Library Edition has to be used in the library, either on library computers or using your laptop and the library's IP address via WiFi - that's Standard Operating Procedure for Ancestry Library Edition. Our State Library, in more fruitful times, purchased a subscription to Heritage Quest that was then made available to all library cardholders in the state. Since the budget crunch of 2009-2010, that is no longer the case. Our public libraries have to subscribe individually if they want to make the service available to their library card holders. SO if there is community interest in genealogy most libraries may subscribe to one or the other, but probably not both - unless the library is part of a larger consortium or regional system or in a large metropolitan area.
The important thing to note is your local public library may offer access to one of these databases, or both. It is important for you to check, since your taxes pay to support the library and their offerings which are then made available free to library cardholders. Your library card is a great value - a free card giving you free access to many resources digital and in print!  ~PL
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dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2950
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:28 pm
Post subject:
PL,
Thanks for posting your clarification. Our local library systems in both LaPorte and Porter Counties subscribe to both Ancestry and Heritage Quest and I've availed myself of Ancestry at the library and Heritage Quest from home. I find it much more convenient to use Heritage Quest from home to view a census return. When I accessed Heritage Quest today the announcement made it clear that Heritage Quest's update is a joint production with Ancestry. I guess I'm just a bit spoiled since our libraries subscribe to both and thought that most public libraries do the same. Sorry to hear that not all libraries have the funds for the subscriptions.
As you say, libraries are an invaluable source of knowledge and public libraries provide that access to all. A library card is something which should be cherished and used regularly.
Dave
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