All Libraries will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18 for Summer Kickoff in Hoffman Park. Libraries will remain closed on June 19 for the holiday. Westernport Library remains closed due to flood damage—cleanup is underway and updates will follow. Please visit any other Allegany County Library System location for service at this time.

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Databases —-> Genealogy & History

Online Resources

Business & Career I Genealogy & History I Law & Government I Newspapers & Magazines I DIY & Special Interest I eBooks & Streaming

Student Resources:

Elementary I Middle I High School & Adult Learners

Test Prep I Learn a New Language or Skill

Use these resources to search for magazine & newspaper articles, encyclopedia entries or business and job information; find a recommendation for a good novel; and much more. Your library card is required to search most of the databases.

Genealogy & History

Ancestry.com Library Edition

This database is only available through the library’s public computers or by connecting to the library’s WiFi. Remote access to this database was discontinued by Ancestry on 12/31/2021.

The Ancestry Library Edition collection has approximately 4,000 databases including key collections such as U.S. Federal Census images and indexes from 1790 to 1930; the Map Center containing more than 1,000 historical maps, Social Security Death Index (updated monthly); WWI Draft Registration Cards; Federal Slave Narratives; and a strong Civil War Collection.

Black Freedom Struggle

Featuring expertly selected open primary source documents. Visitors will find historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence and more from specific time periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom.

Digital Maryland

Online collection of Maryland Historical and Cultural documents, images, audio, and video held by Maryland Institutions. Headquartered at the Enoch Pratt Free Library/State Library Resource

Heritage Quest

HeritageQuest Online is designed specifically for patrons in public libraries who are either just beginning their family research or who after years of work are still uncovering their past.

Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids

Explore amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space. Best for children aged 6–14.

Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970

Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970 provides access to more than 660,000 large-scale maps for more than 12,000 American towns and cities. Sanborn fire insurance maps are the most frequently consulted maps in libraries, and are valuable historical tools. In electronic form, Sanborn maps allow users to easily manipulate the maps, magnify and zoom in on specific sections, and layer maps from different years.