Exploring SeekingMichigan.org

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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Looking for information on your Michigan ancestors or interested in exploring some of Michigan’s rich history?  Check out SeekingMichigan.org!

Launched in 2009 by the Library of Michigan and Archives of Michigan, this site offers a unique collection of Michigan-related genealogy and local history materials. To quickly find materials, simply type the name of a relative or Michigan location into the search bar. You can also use the Advanced Search feature to include or exclude specific collections from your results.

Click on the Discover link to see brief descriptions of each Seeking Michigan collection. Included on the site are:

  • Michigan death records from 1897-1920
  • Michigan state census records, 1884-1894
  • Civil War
    • service records
    • manuscripts
    • volunteer registries
    • photographs
    • battle flags
  • Plat maps
  • A collection on Michigan architecture
  • WPA property inventories from 1936-1942
  • Photos and postcards of Michigan lighthouses
  • Information on Michigan governors
  • Maps of Michigan
  • Oral histories from around the state

The site also offers contact information for all Michigan county clerks, found under the Seek tab. You can contact county clerks for access to things like birth, death, marriage, and divorce records.

All information on Seeking Michigan is available for free, from any computer, and without having to register for an account.

Have questions?  Contact Chelsea Johnson, the Marshall District Library genealogy and local history librarian:

or by email: [email protected] or phone: (269) 781-7821 ext. 23.

Introducing TumbleBooks!

May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Tumble Books

The Marshall District Library is happy to announce the addition of the TumbleBook Library to its list of electronic resources available to children. TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books. Click here to try it now.

Each book can be read in either automatic mode, where the pages turn by themselves and are narrated or in manual mode, where the narration and animation continue but children turn the pages at their own speed. A flashing arrow appears at the end of each page prompting the reader to turn the page. Sound may be turned on or off to allow students to read to themselves.

The TumbleBook library includes a selection of children’s classic fairy tales, such Jack and the Beanstalk and Old Mother Hubbard; new favorites such as Diary of a Worm and How I Became a Pirate; and chapter books like Anne of Green Gables and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. A selection of non-fiction books is available on science, math, history, animals, geography, and biographies, as well as a selection of videos from National Geographic that are designed to meet current Common Core Standards in schools. Some books are available in French or Spanish to aid with language learning. In addition, a collection of puzzles and games is available with each to book to reinforce concepts introduced in each book.

TumbleBooks may be accessed on any library computer or from home through the direct link on the Youth Services page of our website. One way to get a feel for this great new resource is to take the video tour, available here.

Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think!