🌳Unlock family tree with free genealogy center, ancestry database through Orange County Library System

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Need help filling in that family tree?

There are resources you may not know about that can help you research your heritage and connect with family members. And it’s as close as your local library.

After her mom passed away, Crystal Sullivan wanted to learn more about her family history, so she submitted a DNA sample to the genealogy site Ancestry.

“Once I got my results back they’ve given me a list of relatives I didn’t know I had,” said Sullivan. “I was shocked because I was like ‘who are these people.’ They were really high in the DNA count.”

After hitting a roadblock, Crystal made an appointment with Allison Ryall, a full-time certified Genealogist at the West Oaks Branch of the Orange County Library System.

“When she got her DNA results back, she was a little hesitant because she knew something seemed not what she thought it was,” said Ryall. “I love being able to help people with that and seek answers.”

Through research, they discovered something shocking about Sullivan’s mom.

“She went to her grave thinking this whole other person was her dad but after this research, we found out her father was a whole different person,” said Sullivan. “I was able to track down and contact a cousin I didn’t know I had and she told me about my real grandfather... When it really hit me, It was moving. It was tear jerking for me and I wanted to call everybody and tell them about what I found.”

Want to learn more about your family history? You’ll need more than just a name. It’s about making connections. You’ll want to gather as much information as possible.

“Talk to the elders and your cousins. Different family members have different family stories that can present more information to research,” said Ryall.

Although there’s rows and rows of lineage books at the West Oaks Branch library from all over the country, Ryall said you’re better off starting with an online ancestry database, like Ancestry Library Edition. And you can access this service free with your OCLS library card. Not an OCLS member? Try using your library member information for your local library. You may have free access through your local library.

It’s got thousands of genealogy databases and billions of indexed names and images from people in the US and around the world. The Library Edition does not include DNA samples and information available through the Ancestry Membership.

“It’ll have census records, vital records, land records that will be the foundation of your research,” said Ryall.

It helps to know what you’re looking for.

“Make sure you start taking some Genealogy classes. We teach them at the library, they are free, they’re online. You’re learning how to do things the right way and how to acquire information the right way. We’ll help you learn about census records, vital records, land records and that begins our journey,” said Ryall.

Ryall will be there to help guide you along the way.

“I love helping people solve problems and find family. It’s wonderful to be a part of that journey. We all have a right to know who we are and where we come from,” said Ryall.

And it is a journey that takes time and patience.

“Every situation is different, sometimes we get a lot of matches and we get lucky like with Crystal. Other times it can be long drawn out... Years to answer some of the questions,” said Ryall.

“Where do I go from here? I’m still trying to figure it out. My cousin and I have become friends on Facebook and we plan to meet up in the future,” said Sullivan.