Fall 2018 genealogy classes at Metairie library

The New Orleans Public Library will present four genealogy classes for beginners and intermediate researchers this fall at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. This event is free and is open to the public. There is no registration.

7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 - Obituaries for Beginners

New to obituaries?  Always wondered what an obituary is and what it can be used for? This introductory talk will explain how to find, read and understand obituaries. A story usually starts at the beginning, but sometimes genealogists can learn more by starting at the end.

7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 - Navigating Historic New Orleans Newspapers

Learn how to use online databases and get the most out of a search. This course will focus on how to navigate the Historic Newspapers database (Newsbank), including printing and saving. It will also walk patrons through various searching methods and provide lessons on how to ensure patrons are searching most efficiently. 

7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018 - Introduction to Property Research Resources 

This class will provide beginners with an introduction to property research resources focusing on Orleans Parish. This includes free resources available online as well as resources housed in the Louisiana Division/City Archives.

7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 - Introduction to Ancestry and HeritageQuest

Patrons will learn how to access and navigate both the Ancestry and HeritageQuest genealogy databases. Staff will explain the available resources, review searching methods and tips, and provide examples. This class will also cover some general troubleshooting methods. 

Amanda Fallis will lead the first and fourth sessions. She has been a professional archivist for more than two years and has been an employee of New Orleans Public library for more than five years. She received her Masters of Library and Information Science with a special certification in archives and special collections in 2015 from the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Library and Information Science. Amanda joined the Louisiana Division/City Archives and Special Collections that same year, where she has worked with the department’s extensive genealogy and city records, as well as with hundreds of other historic collections. Fallis is a member of the Society of American Archivists, Louisiana Archives and Manuscripts Association, and the Louisiana Library Association.

--> Christina Bryant will lead the second and third sessions. She is a Certified Archivist, has worked as the Head of the Louisiana Division/City Archives and Special Collection at the New Orleans Public Library since 2015. She previously worked on Hurricane Katrina recovery projects and as an archivist at the Notarial Archives before joining the staff at the Louisiana Division/City Archives in 2013. She manages a collection that dates back to 1769 and whose contents are housed across three floors of the Main Library. Bryant received her master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a specialization in archives from Louisiana State University in 2005. She currently serves as the president of the Greater New Orleans Archivists and the Chair of the Local Government Records Section for the Society of American Archivists. 

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.