The Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz Public Libraries system have joined in a unique partnership to make this collection available to the public. The archive contains over 10,000 reference-only items which the Society has acquired and maintains. Society members serve as volunteer staffers, and the public library provides housing and technical support for the collection.
Books, CD-ROMS, microfilm, and periodicals provide information pertaining to every US state and many foreign countries. For those people just starting their quest, there is an extensive selection of guides and how-to books. The publications are listed in the library catalog, which may be accessed via terminals throughout the various branches of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. The catalog is also available to internet users by visiting the search screen at www.santacruzpl.org.
A map posted below of the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz library shows where various materials are housed. Other research assistance provided by the Society includes answering queries and arranging interlibrary loans.
A large collection of microfilmed newspapers is contained in this room. Local newspapers dating from the 1850s to the 1950s have been indexed through the efforts of the Friends of the Library and the Genealogical Society. Those indices are available in the Santa Cruz County section of the genealogy collection, with call numbers beginning with GeneSoc CALIF./SC
Microfilm and fiche viewers with printers are available in the room. A copy machine is also provided. A research computer provides access to a growing collection of databases and other references on CD-ROM. These are available at any time a volunteer staffer is present.
An extensive circulating selection of Californiana is provided for historians, students, and genealogists. It includes historical materials relating to all parts of California.
The Genealogical Society also provides Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services for genealogical requests from local residents. An ILL form for such requests must be filled out, and the book(s) or microform must be used, in person, at the Genealogy Library.
