The Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) Genealogy Lab is offering free resources to help individuals research their family history. Located on the second floor of the TMCC Learning Commons at the Dandini Campus, the genealogy collection is managed by librarian Sue Malek.
Malek noted that genealogy can be a time-intensive activity and is often pursued later in life. “Genealogy can be time-consuming, and as a result, it's the type of hobby or interest that many people cannot do until after retirement and their children are grown and out of the house,” said Malek. “Additionally, in people's retirement years, it’s not uncommon for them to ask themselves: What is the legacy that they will leave behind for their children and grandchildren? Genealogy is often the answer.”
TMCC offers several services for those interested in exploring their ancestry. These include a free online Zoom Open Genealogy Lab held every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., access to a dedicated family history research collection, and free online one-on-one genealogy research appointments.
The virtual meetings have drawn participants from across the country since they began during the pandemic. Malek explained that these online sessions make it possible for individuals with mobility or health challenges to join from home. “Those who have mobility or health issues are able to attend from home. I teach everyone how to do genealogy research, just like the other librarians teach research skills to TMCC students.”
Each Friday session features a guest speaker covering different topics related to genealogy research, followed by group participation where attendees collaborate on solving specific genealogical challenges. According to Malek: “My Friday online Open Genealogy Lab is divided into two parts,” she says, “The first hour or so is usually a guest speaker, and the topic is different from week to week. One week it might be how to research your Civil War ancestor, the next week might be how to write a family history book.” Recordings of these speakers are available in a curated YouTube playlist.
Malek added: “The second half of class is where we all work together on anyone's family tree brick wall,” Malek continued. “Having 25 people work on your research block is better than one. In this way, the more experienced genealogists get the experience of working with the less skilled, and the less skilled person gains knowledge from the more experienced. In the end, participants get the enjoyment of study groups and the opportunity to socialize at the same time.”
TMCC encourages community members interested in learning about their heritage or preserving family stories for future generations to take advantage of these offerings by contacting Elizabeth Sturm Library or calling 775-673-8260.