E-reference ratings.(websites on genealogy)

When we first hunched E-Reference Ratings in our Reference Announcements issue (LJ 11/15/08) and on our web site (www.libraryjournal. com/reference), we promised to update it frequently to help you stay on top of the growing universe of e-resources. In this second update to the feature (see LJ 3/1/09 for the first update on travel and tourism), Barb Kundanis of Longmont P.L., CO, takes a look at some of the best-known subscription-based genealogy resources and determines their pros and cons. If the number of genealogy resources promoted at this year's Midwinter ALA Conference in Denver is any indication, the category is flourishing online, with sources like Ancestry Library Edition and Footnote.com leading the way. And if you can't afford a subscription, FamilySearch.org is a great alternative. This free site provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claims to be the largest collection of genealogy resources available, with data from over 100 countries.

If you are unfamiliar with E-Reference Ratings, take a moment to read the "criteria" legend as well as the "ratings" legend to see what the various stars mean. And don't forget to email us with feedback.--Mirela Roncevic, Reference Editor, mroncevic@reedbusiness.com

genealogy Barb Kundanis, Reference Librarian, Longmont P.L., CO

[] Ancestry Library Edition. Generations Network. www.ancestry.com

Probably the best-known subscription-based genealogical resource, this is very popular with library users and a usual starting point. With 25,000 …