Online Library Resources

Photo by Daniel on Unsplash

​Libraries have been doing a juggling act with this pandemic.  Some are open, others closed and still others are balancing being open with restrictions while providing additional online resources.  People who use library versions of popular genealogy databases may have felt the lack of access.  Some libraries are making their library edition of genealogy databases available for at home use during the pandemic.  Let’s look.

The ODIN is the Online Dakota Information Network.  While it doesn’t not cover every library in the state, you can follow these instructions to see if it is available for your library.
North Dakota - ODIN

• Once you are at that site you can choose databases, public K-12, and then select your library.  You’ll need to sign in using your library card and password.
• If you prefer to watch this process via video, check out the Jackie Marler video on the West Fargo Library Facebook page.

While West Fargo Library is part of this network, the Fargo Library does not appear in the list. However, if you sign in on your Fargo Library account, you can access from home the Ancestry library edition.  There are some universities included in ODIN and I tried the UND Library, and I could review their database list but to access, I needed an ID.
 
I was curious so I checked a few other states, so I checked
Minnesota has MNLInk for its library systems.  As with North Dakota, you need to belong to a library within the system.

South Dakota has the South Dakota Library Network:   SDLN which connects libraries across South Dakota and is geared towards education.

Iowa has the Iowa Libraries Online and appears to have access to online heritage records related to Iowa.  I was unable to access because like the others you do need a library card for those libraries.
 
For more information about online offerings related to libraries, check out Thomas MacEntee’s article Get FREE Online Library Access for Genealogy & Family History Research - Genealogy Bargains from September 2020.
 
When we research our family history, think about creative ways to access the information we need.  Since none of us have unlimited resources, using the online options (and eventually in person) at libraries is one way to use our genealogy wisely.  Have fun exploring these options.