South Dakota Library Challenge:  Electronic Resource Edition

Lesson 9  |  Ancestry Library, Heritage Quest, Sanborn Maps  |  March 16, 2015

*The South Dakota Library Challenge: Electronic Resources Edition was developed by the South Dakota State Library staff to introduce you to the statewide subscription electronic resources. The Electronic Resources Challenge encourages library staff to learn more about the resources that provide expanded access to information and research tools to all schools, libraries and citizens of South Dakota.


Week 9 of the SDSL Challenge has us exploring history and genealogy resources such as Ancestry Library, Heritage Quest, and Sanborn Maps. Ancestry Library contains over 4000 different searchable databases and indexes.  In addition to census information, it offers historical maps, yearbooks, and indexes, including the continuous index.  Heritage Quest provides access to census information plus full text historical books, Freedman's Bank records, and more.  Sanborn Maps offers historical fire insurance maps for 82 SD communities and includes details such as street names, house numbers, and building use.

I began exploring in Ancestry Library by doing a search for my name.  Apparently, you don't have to be dead to be listed in this resource.  When I searched using my married name, there was a result with an old address and telephone number.  When I searched using my maiden name, I was given my marriage license information from 2000.  Next, I searched my grandfather on my mother's side.  He died when I was in 6th grade.  This search resulted in a SS Death Index, several census listings, a grave index, and an army enlistment.  Finally, using this resource, I typed "South Dakota" in to the location search bar.  This brought up almost 500 million results including census and voter lists, birth, marriage, and death certificates, military listings, immigration and travel documents, newspapers and publications, pictures, and much, much more.  I opened the link for pictures and looked a few.  These were great historical pictures with a caption, location, source information, and description.  You can also click on the picture to get a nice close-up where you can zoom in.  Very cool!

For the second part of this Challenge, I explored Heritage Quest.  This resource has over 28,000 family and local histories in their online historical books.  I began by clicking on the link to the Family History Books and Directories and then searched for Sturgis, SD, in the location search bar.  The first thing that I noticed is that it seemed like many of the results had nothing to do with Sturgis, SD!  So, I used the search filter option in the left sidebar to make my search more exact.  When I narrowed my search to the "state" level, I got a hit for "A Brief History of South Dakota."  This was of interest to me, so I clicked on the link and was taken to another page that had 224 results.  At this point, I was just pretty confused as to what I was looking at and what I was looking for.  I tried to make sense of it, but finally gave up until a new day.

Finally, for the last part of this Challenge, I explored Sanborn Maps.  I started by searching for Sturgis, SD, with the date January 1931.  There was an index page and then several pages of maps that I could look at.  After looking at several of the maps, I found the church that my husband and I were married in!  It is a very old chapel that is being restored by my husband's family.  There were other buildings on the maps from 1931 that still exist today, as well.  Most of these are on our Main Street.  This would be an interesting resource for a history class.  

Overall, three really good resources...even though I couldn't quite get into Heritage Quest.   
    



         

GYRO! Winners for Dec 2013/Jan 2014

Get Your Read On! Book Club
The GYRO is a school-wide reading club that allows you to engage your brain and activate your imagination through the world of books.  There are no restrictions on what you can read, how you read (print or digital), or the amount you read.  For every 100 pages you read, you earn one ticket.  Each ticket earned goes into the prize bin.  Bi-monthly and grand prizes are awarded.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Check out a book from the library or find another route to get your hands on a book.

Step 2: Read the book.

Step 3: Fill out the online “GYRO Prove It” form @ http://msdlibrarymedia.blogspot.com > SWMS Library or SBHS Library

Step 4: Start the process again!

GYRO Winners for Oct./Nov. 2013

CONGRATS 
to our GYRO Book Club winners for October/November 2013

For Sturgis Williams Middle School the top two prizes go to: 
 Jarrett Boyd
who read 2588 pages!

Other winners include: Grant Wilen, Ryan Wilen, Chaelyn Kaski, Reagan Smith, Reegin Kehn, Cayla Sundberg, Darrion Williamson, Alexandra Wise, Abby Aberle, Brook Bestgen, Emme Craig, Haley Houchin, Anna Hale, and Mrs. C. Anderson.

For Sturgis Brown High School the top prize goes to: 
 Claire Scarborough
who read 7, 553 pages!

Other winners include: Alora Huffman, Jordan Smith, Devon Wolter, Mr. Schmaltz, Mrs. P. Anderson, and Mrs. Gies

THANK YOU to our local sponsors:
Subway, Pizza Hut, Taco Johns, & Culver's.

SBHS Library Recognized by State Library

Kudos for the SBHS Library Media Center!

Our high school library was honored for its efforts to support 21st century learning!

In September, the SBHS Library Media Center was recognized by the South Dakota State Library as 21st Century School Library at the Effective level.

The recognition program identifies school libraries as Effective, Enhanced or Exemplary, based on performance in three areas:

1. the place ( the learning environment, both physical and online)

2. programming 

3. professionalism

For more information and to see who else won the award, click here.