By Tom McCormally

The Johnson County Genealogical Society, founded in partnership with Johnson County Library in 1972, occupies a large space in Overland Park’s Central Resource Library and has volunteer genealogists on site seven days a week to help people in search of their family roots, whether they are in Johnson County or anywhere in the world.

At first, the work can seem overwhelming. Many people don’t know where to start.

“We are here to help,” said Heather Jenkins, president of the Genealogical Society. “There is a simple place to start: with yourself. Start with your heirlooms, old photos, family Bibles. Start with yourself and work backwards … and occasionally sideways.

JCGS volunteers are available to help every day of the week. They can point you toward resources – either physical or digital – that can aid in your quest. Those looking for additional help with either basic genealogical research or DNA and Genetic Genealogy can arrange future one-on-one sessions with volunteers.

In all, Jenkins said, there are 7,000 non-circulating items in the genealogical collection, and services like Ancestry.com can be used free of charge within the Library.

Included among the resources at the Central Library Genealogical Corner is an old card catalog filled with decades of obituaries clipped from local newspapers. Microfilm of the Kansas City Star and smaller local papers are on hand and date back generations. In a space known as the Memory Lab, scanners are available for people wanting help converting photos, slides and videos to digital formats for safer keeping and sharing. Forms and templates are available to help keep your information organized and to help you get started on your family tree.

JCGS also offers special-interest groups – people who want to create digital albums for instance, or those interested in Irish genealogy – to help connect like-interested people together for support and fellowship. There are also monthly programs on history topics on Saturdays at the Central Resource Library.

For more information about the Society, visit the Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park or jcgsks.org.

Tom McCormally/freelance writer/Johnson County Library.