Book lovers have no need to despair--the evolution of libraries to "Digital Libraries" and online catalogs does not mean printed books will fade away. Access to OPACs (library lingo for Online Public Access Catalogs) simply means that you have the ability to search card catalogs from the comfort of your home--it does not mean you can view the holdings, although digital library programs may someday make it possible.

Public libraries are not the only ones making their catalogs available online...university and other educational institutions, state libraries, as well as genealogy and historical societies are jumping on the Internet bandwagon and creating a vast resource for you to search!

Even if your public library does not have a big genealogy section, you can still locate and borrow books on family and local histories, how-to books, periodicals, microfilms and microfiche of various documents, and much more!