Many New York State public libraries will be offering free genealogy programs in the first half of August. A second posting of events will follow in two weeks.
The Walworth Seeley Public Library (Wayne County) provides genealogy assistance every Monday from 2-4 p.m. For more information, go to: https://www.walworthlibrary.org/genealogy-local-history
The Hamlin Public Library (Monroe County) provides free Genealogy Help every Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. Need help with your family tree? Stop by or call ahead and make an appointment with Tracy. For more information, call 585-964-2320 or go to: https://hamlinlibraryny.org/
The Riverhead Free Library (Suffolk County) offers genealogy assistance every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. Appointments are one hour long. You can make an appointment at genealogy@riverheadlibrary.org or by calling the reference desk at 631-727-3228 x301.
The Gates Public Library (Monroe County) will provide genealogy assistance every Friday from 1-4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 585-247-6446.
The Williamson Public Library (Wayne County) will have one-on-one genealogy sessions every Friday at 12:50 p.m. Registration is required. To register, go to: https://owwl.libcal.com/calendar?t=d&q=genealogy&cid=12971&cal=12971&inc=0
The Prendergast Library (Chautauqua County) holds a Genealogy Lab Workshop every Friday from 2-4 p.m. https://www.prendergastlibrary.org/genealogy-and-memory-lab/
Geneva Public Library will host a genealogy research roundtable on the third Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. Get together with others who are interested in family tree research. Stumped? Other attendees and the Reference & Technology Librarian can help you find what you are looking for. For more information, call 315-789-5303 Ext. 206.
Week of August 3-8
Yonkers Public Library (Westchester County) will offer “Create Your Family Tree” on Monday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. Get together to talk about your genealogical research. Learn how to access thousands of genealogical records using the Library’s online resources and databases such as HeritageQuest, Family Search and Ancestry! This is an English and Spanish bilingual program. To register, go to: https://www.ypl.org/event/create-your-family-tree-crea-tu-arbol-de-familia-92479
The New City Public Library (Rockland County) will present “Online Genealogy with Ancestry.com” on Monday, Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. Learn about the basics of the Ancestry.com database. Participants will practice searching basic birth, marriage and death records and learn helpful tips for your genealogy projects. To register, go to: https://newcitylibrary.org/event/copy-online-genealogy-ancestrycom-78410
The Gloversville Public Library (Albany County) will present “Unearth Your Family History” on Monday, Aug. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Start your genealogy journey with a beginner’s guide to researching your family tree. The Capital District Genealogical Society will walk you through how to get started and introduce you to free resources. No registration is required.
The Longwood Public Library (Suffolk County) will present a Genealogy 102 program on Monday, Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to build your family tree while documenting your findings. To register, go to: https://www.longwoodlibrary.org/event/genealogy-102-190584
South Huntington Public Library (Suffolk County) will offer an in person Genealogy Drop-In on Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. Thinking about tracing your roots but don’t know where to start? Or maybe your search is under way and you’ve hit a dead end. Librarian Jean King will be on hand to show you how you can access free genealogical resources, including Ancestry, through the library and to offer search tips and advice. No registration necessary.
The Clifton Park-Half Moon Public Library (Saratoga County) will offer genealogy assistance on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop in with questions from 11 a.m. to 12 pm, stay for the round table discussion starting at noon.
The Longwood Public Library (Suffolk County) will offer a genealogy drop-in on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 2-3 p.m. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your family history or have hit a roadblock in your research, librarian Georgie O’Neill can help you take the next step. Learn all about genealogical research, including practical tips, search strategies, and guidance to help you uncover the stories, records, and connections that bring family history to life.
The Colonie Public Library (Albany County) will be offering one-on-one appointments with volunteers from the Capital District Genealogical Society on Saturday, Aug. 8 from noon to 3 p.m. Experienced researchers will demonstrate the steps involved in starting your family history research. Discover essential research methods and strategies, identify relevant records and how to locate them, and organize your family research information. You need to register for a time slot. Go to the library event calendar at: https://events.colonielibrary.org/events/month/2026/08
Week of August 9 – 15
The Chemung Library System will present “Freedmen Searching for Family” on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. This is a Zoom presentation. Countless African American families experienced the traumatic displacement and loss of family members during slavery. In the wake of Emancipation, African Americans from all over the country desperately searched for their missing family members – using such resources as the Freedmen’s Bureau and newspapers. You can find biographical information of the missing relative and applicant; reveal name aliases; offer distinguishing clues such as where and when the relative was last seen; provide a history of slave ownership; and identify migration patterns. To register, go to: https://www.chemunglibraries.org/event/looking-my-babies-freedmen-searching-family-ari-wilkins-17132
Arcade Free Library (Wyoming County) will be presenting “Unearth A Story” on Thursday, August 13 from 5;30-6:30 p.m. Learn about free resources to help you connect with your family history! To register, go to: https://owwl.libcal.com/event/17084783
The Lyons Public Library (Wayne County) will present “A User’s Guide to the DAR Library” on Friday, Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. This is an in-person program. A reference librarian from the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. will be live via Zoom to discuss the wide scope of materials available from the National DAR Library. She will talk about her experiences working at the DAR library. Members from a local chapter will be on hand with handouts and membership information. To register, go to: https://owwl.libcal.com/event/17098436
Monroe Free Library (Orange County) will have a genealogy Walk-In program on Friday, August 14 at 10 a.m. Drop in to get help exploring your family history. Whether you’re just getting started or digging deeper into your research, we’ll be on hand to guide you, answer questions, and help you uncover new details about your roots. To register, go to: https://www.monroefreelibrary.org/Events/ModuleID/419/ItemID/15655/mctl/EventDetails
Volunteers from the Western New York Genealogical Society will be at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Central Library on Friday, August 14 from 9 a.m. to noon to assist researchers with the society’s library collection and answer general research questions.
