GFT on Tuesday, July 5

There will be a GFT (Genealogy First Tuesday) on Tuesday evening, July 5, 6 to 8:30 pm in the Genealogy / Local History room.

Registration is encouraged but not required.  To register, call the Reference Desk at (847) 729-7500 x2700.

On your way up that evening, stop at the Circulation (Checkout) Desk and tell them you are attending the GFT.  Ask them to add your car to their "Worry Free List" for extended parking time.

You will be able to use the Lundberg and Glenview Collections, and no library card will be requuired to use the genealogy databases on the two genealogy PCs in that room.

You can also bring your laptop and your genealogy questions.

There is no set program.  Conversation is driven by whatever you are researching and working on.  You can  notify Deena in advance regarding topics you want to know more about.

We will all help each other get "Unstuck!"

See you on July 5!.

1940 Census Enumeration

Instructions to enumerators of the 1940 Census are illuminating.  Reading them provides an idea of what the questions involved, and how to interpret the information they contain.

Medical Genetics in Genealogy

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois will host a presentation about medical genetics at its next meeting. Everyone is welcome.


DATE:  Sunday JUNE 26th -Temple Beth Israel - 3601 W. Dempster in Skokie 12:30 p.m. The temple will open for those interested in using library materials, have genealogical questions or need help with website searches.

PROGRAM: 2:00: Medical Genetics.  Scott Weissman, MS and Certified Genetic Counselor at the Center for Medical Genetics at North Shore University Health System will give an update on the status of Jewish genetic issues.

Genealogy First Tuesday: TODAY, 2 P.M.!

Today is the First Tuesday of June.

Come to Genealogy First Tuesday (GFT) 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Genealogy room.  Feel free to bring your laptop.  There will also be 2 library PCs for us to share.

If you plan to stay the entire 2.5 hours but are worried about the 2-hour parking limit, stop at the Circulation Desk on your way up to the Genealogy Room.  Tell them you are attending the GFT, and add your car to their "safe" list.

[please note: an incorrect time was printed in the Wilmette Life and in the GPL e-newsletter.  In ODD months, GFTs happen at 6 pm.  In EVEN months, GFTs happen at 2 pm.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.]

How To Self-Publish Your Genealogy Book

You can self-publish a book and sell it on Amazon.  They have a service to help anyone self-publish books, and list them in Amazon's catalog.

Here's how:

1.Go to Amazon's self-publishing web site, CreateSpace, and create a free account.

2.Select the size of the pages in the book you wish to publish and then download a Microsoft Word template for that size of book.

3.Copy your manuscript into the template. That template will determine left and right side pages, generate page numbers, generate the table of contents, and other formatting.

4.Make a cover. You can do all the artwork yourself, hire it out, or use one of CreateSpace's pre-defined formats.

5.Save the result as a PDF file and then upload it to CreateSpace. The CreateSpace service will even assign the ISBN number You also need to determine the price of the finished book.

CreateSpace will send a proof to you. If you approve, the finished book will be in Amazon.com's catalog within two or three business days.

The royalty paid to you varies widely, depending upon the price you set and the size of the book.

CreateSpace has excellent customer support.  Click on the Call Me icon  and, within 30 seconds, a customer service representative will call your phone.

No products are manufactured ahead of time so there is no inventory to worry about, and your titles are shipped directly to the end customer.

Marketing and promoting the book is entirely up uo you.  But the Glenview Public Library has many wonderful books about marketing your product that you can check out.  Try A Simple Guide to Marketing Your Book by Mark Ortman 808.02 ORT;  The Complete Guide to Book Marketing by Cole David  070.5 COL. or The Complete Guide to Book Publicity by Jodee Blanco  002.068 BLA.

Genealogy Speakers

GeneaSpeak lists speaking engagements and profiles of genealogy speakers and presenters as well as calls for papers and upcoming genealogy conferences.

If you want to hear a speaker who specializes in your area of research...or hire a speaker on a certain topic for your group...or promote yourself, if you are a genealogy speaker... GeneaSpeak may be able to help you.

The Great Illinois Genealogy Scavenger Hunt

The Great Illinois Genealogy Scavenger Hunt contest is sponsored by the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) in conjunction with Family Search..

It will run from June 1, 2011 through 11:59 pm Thursday, June 30, 2011.

Locate information on your favorite Illinois genealogy-related resource, and tell why it is worthy of inclusion in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.   Submit your article or a hyperlink via Official Entry Form.  Be sure to check the Illinois Page on Family Search to see which articles and links are already listed.

Be sure to read the Official Contest Rules.  There are some nice prizes, including ISGS membership, conference registrations, etc.

Good luck...and enjoy searching for the best Illinois genealogy resources!