Genealogy

  • Ancestry Library Edition – Census records (1790 – 1940) and a wealth of other genealogical records. You must use a Library computer to access this database. Must be in library to use.
  • FamilySearch – Comprehensive genealogy site from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ALPL is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Access to digital genealogical collections that are otherwise not available outside the library are available on public computers. Non-affiliate records are available from home and on WiFi. 

  • African American Heritage* – A comprehensive mix of genealogical information resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African Americans
  • Cyndi’s List – A categorized and cross-referenced index to online genealogical resources.
  • FindMyPast*– Trace your ancestry and build a family tree by researching extensive birth records, census data, and obituaries.
  • Fold3* – Military records database.
  • Heritage Quest* – A rich genealogical database.
  • Western Reserve Historical Society Library/Archives and Genealogical Center – Access to the Society’s catalog and many online indexes and files. Useful for genealogists and local history buffs.

History and Biography

  • Biography Reference Bank* – Biographies, obituaries, and photographs of thousands of individuals, both living and deceased.  Full-text articles from more than 100 volumes of biographical reference books published by H. W. Wilson, plus thousands of profiles licensed from other respected publishers. Updated monthly.
  • Ohio History Central Online Encyclopedia – Information about Ohio’s natural history, prehistory, and history.  A product of the Ohio History Connection.
  • Ohio Memory Project – More than 75,000 primary source documents in Ohio history.  A collaborative program of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio.
  • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps* – Large-scale street plans, including building outlines, property boundaries, and building use; produced by the Sanborn Map Company from 1867 to the present.

*Database access is funded by OPLIN’s Ohio Web Library for all Ohio residents, while some resources are provided by Avon Lake Public Library for our cardholders and visitors. All of these resources will work on computers inside our Library, but you will need a library card to access them from home or elsewhere.