Volunteers Can Help Library Visitors Find Ancestors

Middletown Mayor Dan Drew recently visited where he shared details of his family's past in hopes of tracing his ancestory.  is scheduled to return to Godfrey next week where library officials tell Patch he may be surprised about what the staff has uncovered.

Located at 134 Newfield Street in Middletown, the library specializes in genalogy, a popular hobby that has grown in popularity in the internet age thanks to websites like ancestry.com.

Interestingly, the library provides volunteers with unique opportunities to help in the process.

The opportunities range from helping visitors trace their family lineage to actually documenting history using the library's own online database.

"We need volunteers to help patrons who come in and are interested in genaology," said Beth Mariotti, Executive Director at the library.

Marioti said the library recently launched a new version of Scholar Plus, an online research tool used to trace family lineage. Additionally, volunteers may help transcribe handwritten information from donated materials into the computer program, as well as maintain micro film and other records.

"We do train them specifically on what they're working on," Marioti said.

There are currently about 40 volunteers at the library. Hours depend on availability and commitment.

Other volunteer tasks include cemetery research and landscaping.

"We always have a need for people who are good writers, because we have grant [writing], somebody could help us with marketing, newsletters, adding things to Facebook. There's a lot of writing that has to be done to help promote and get the word out," Marioti said.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at Godfrey Memorial Library, visit their website or call (860) 346-4375.