Media Releases 2012

Family history research room

13 Feb 2012

Wyong Shire Council opened a new purpose built Family and Local History Research Room at the Tuggerah Library last week, much to the delight of historians and family history buffs.

Mayor, Bob Graham and Manager of Public Access of State Records, Christine Yeats, officially opened the room at a celebration on Wednesday. 

“Tuggerah Library has one of the best local studies and family history collections in the state,” said Mayor Bob Graham at the opening.

“Now we have a dedicated room with computers, microfiche and microfilm so people can have access to the latest equipment and resources to research their family or local history.”

Tuggerah Library’s Reference Librarian, Michelle Goldsmith, said that family history has been very popular in the past two years.

“The TV show ‘Who do you think you are?’ has generated a greater interest in family history,” she said.

“Once upon a time people would have physically gone to State Records in Sydney or they would have had to do extensive research on microfiche and search through old documents.

“The digitalisation of records has made it much easier for people to research their family history. The dedicated room at the library makes it even easier, with free access to ancestry.com and findmypast.com, access to historical records on microfilm and a reading room to read social history books or historic newspapers to compliment their research.”

Tuggerah Library also hosts regular family history talks with experts from State Records. In addition, on the third Saturday of the month, a volunteer from the Wyong Family History Group is available to help at the library.

To book time in the family and local history research room, call Tuggerah Library on 4350 1560.

Media contact: Annette Young, 4350 5191 or 0437 872 388.