Keller Public Library teams with LDS Church to offer Genealogy classes

The Keller Public Library, in a partnership with local congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently offered a free, six-week Introduction to Family History course on Tuesday evenings, as part of a collaboration that has been in place since 2015. Michelle Dawson, a Keller resident and mother of five, shared the valuable expertise she has gained over the last 20 years with class members.

Dawson utilized the free resources available on FamilySearch.org to design the course for beginner level genealogical researchers. Class members were able to use the library’s computers and internet access to create accounts and start to fill in their own family trees on FamilySearch.org. Students came to class each week to share their experiences and ask questions. Michelle’s expertise was very valuable to the students, as they were mostly beginners.

Of her research experience and passion for this type of work, Michelle, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says, “I have always enjoyed searching for names in libraries and now, online. My first significant experience with family history was years ago when I discovered the Arlington Public Library had a genealogy section loaded with cemetery surveys. I spent hours gleaning details about my own Texas family there and visited some family cemeteries in Limestone County.”

Rae Cheney, the Keller Library Services Manager, expressed her appreciation for the partnership. “We were so grateful when we were approached by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about teaching a series of genealogy classes back in 2015. There is a huge demand for genealogical information, but our library’s size prevents us from housing a large collection. Mormons are well known for their extensive genealogical research and resources, so we couldn’t have asked for a better organization to host this type of class.”
Not only is the class fulfilling a need the library can’t provide on its own, but the classes have attracted quite a crowd. Cheney went on to say, “The response from our patrons has been overwhelming. Registration for the classes fills up fast and people are always thrilled when they get an opportunity to participate. Our volunteer instructors have been kind enough to do a couple of series every year since the partnership began and there is no sign of the popularity slowing down. We will continue offering the classes for as long as they are willing to teach them! Our library depends on our community partnerships and volunteers to be able to offer a wide range of educational opportunities, and this is a hugely popular class that we couldn’t do without the help of Michelle and all the other volunteers from our local LDS church.”

Future sessions of this class at the Keller Library will be offered beginningin February. The demand is high and the teacher? Well, she’s ready to go!