Many New York State public libraries will be offering free genealogy programs in the first half of February. 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/
Week of February 2 – 7
Yonkers Public Library (Westchester County) will offer “Create Your Family Tree” on Monday, Feb. 2 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-92466
South Huntington Public Library (Suffolk County) will offer an in person Genealogy Drop-In on Tuesday, Feb. 3 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.
Rogers Memorial Library (Suffolk County) will be offering one-on-one genealogy assistance on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 12:30 p.m. Are you looking to begin your family genealogy research journey? Book a 1-on-1 appointment with a librarian for a 45 minute session. Call the reference desk at 631-283-0774 ext. 505 with any questions.
The Chatham Public Library (Columbia County) will host a genealogy club on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 2-5 p.m. The club is for beginners and experts and everyone in between. Let’s work together to find those elusive ancestors, brick down brick walls and share tips and tricks. For information and the Zoom link (if you are unable to attend in person), please contact Michelle at michelle@leclairdesign.com.
The Family Finders club will meet in person at the Rochester Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. Do you wonder who your ancestors were and how you can learn more about them? Whether you are an experienced researcher or just starting out, join this informal monthly gathering. February’s topic will be African American Genealogy. To register, go to: https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/15488450
Week of February 8 – 14
Western New York Genealogy Society volunteers will be on-site in the Grosvenor Room, located on the first floor of the Buffalo Central Library, on Sunday, Feb. 8 from noon to 5 p.m. to assist researchers with the society’s library collection and to answer general genealogy questions. No registration is required.
Western New York Genealogy Society volunteers will be on-site in the Grosvenor Room, located on the first floor of the Buffalo Central Library, on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from noon to 4 p.m. to assist researchers with the society’s library collection and to answer general genealogy questions. No registration is required.
Chemung County Libraries will present “New Frontiers in Genealogy” on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at at 6 p.m. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse. You may have heard these terms on the news, but what do they have to do with genealogy? This session will demonstrate how these emerging technologies will shape a new frontier in family history including how we research our ancestors and share their stories. To register, go to: https://www.chemunglibraries.org/event/new-frontiers-genealogy-lisa-alzo-13940
Webster Public Library (Monroe County) will present “Where to Find Genealogy Records” on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. Join us for this second workshop in our genealogy series. Learn where to find key genealogy records—from vital certificates to census entries—and how to access them online and in local archives. Discover how to evaluate each source for accuracy, reliability, and clues that point to the next step in your research. To register, go to: https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/16089669
Penn Yan Public Library (Yates County) will host of Family Research Support Group on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. Learn from others and share your own tips and stories from your genealogical journeys in this ongoing, participant-driven program. This will be a hybrid program. If you want to attend virtually, use the following link: http://bit.ly/PYPLfam.
The Interlaken Public Library will host a genealogy meetup on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Interested in genealogy and family history? Join seasoned researchers for a meetup to discuss research tips and tricks, get help with your research, and enjoy other researchers who share your love of family history. To register, go to: https://interlakenpubliclibrary.org/event/genealogy-meetup-3/
The Steele Memorial Library (Chemung County) will present “Exploring Online Newspapers” on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. Learn about how to find and use newspapers online for your family history or general research. To register, go to: https://www.chemunglibraries.org/event/exploring-online-newspapers-16282
New York Public Library will present “Introduction to African American Genealogy” on Thursday, Feb. 12 at noon. From 1565 to 1790, Africans comprised over a third of the roughly one million newcomers to what would become the United States. With little exception, these men, women, and children crossed in bondage. Centuries of local and federal laws related to the livelihood of Black Americans have created a complex paper trail of genealogical resources. This class provides historical context and recommends basic research methods for African American family history. To register, go to: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2026/02/12/introduction-african-american-genealogy-research
