Genealogy and Local History Services
Genealogy Resources
The library offers many resources to guide you on your journey to explore your family history. Our library would be happy to get you started in your search!
Family History Exploration: A One-on-One Taster Sessions
We offer monthly Family History Exploration: A One-on-One Taster Sessions. Registration required, see the online event calendar for details. Our one-on-one taster session is your opportunity to take the first step towards the fascinating journey of tracing your ancestry. We'll go over the information you already know and see what else we can find! Good to know: Prior to your session please download the ‘My Family History’ form. Please fill in as much as you know about your ancestors. Bring the form and up to three documents to review with the genealogist during your session. Level: Beginner
Vivid-Pix ScanSnap Scanner & Memory Station
The Mokena Community Public Library offers usage of a Vivid-Pix ScanSnap Scanner & Memory Station to our patrons as part of our makerspace.
What is the Vivid-Pix ScanSnap Scanner SV600 and Memory Station?
ScanSnap Scanner SV600: Advanced optics/illumination produce consistent image quality. Scan up to 10 photos / documents at one time. Correct curve distortion from book scans. Up to 600 dpi JPEG and PDF.
Memory Station: Vivid-Pix Memory Station scans and/or selects images from the computer, restores these images, records a voice memory describing images, and combines the photo / voice memories into an MP4 video story. For In depth video tutorials from Vivid-Pix, please visit their website.
See our makerspace page for additional details here.
Genealogy Databases
Ancestry.com - Available in library only to Mokena Community Public Library card holders.
Genealogical collection of the U.S. and the U.K., including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records, as well as record collections from Canada and other areas.
With A to Z Maps Online, you have approximately 145,000 maps at your fingertips. This combination of proprietary maps and maps from other reputable sources gives you a “one-stop shop” for content that can be downloaded and used without any copyright restrictions.
Explore Chicago history through local news, events and people with Chicago Sun-Times Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Explore Chicago history through local news, events and people with Daily Southtown Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 – today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.
Online Genealogy & Local History Collection of 25,000+ family and local history books. Complete U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1930.
Local History Resources
Newspaper Archive
Click here to explore our Newspaper Archive. We are currently in the process of uploading local Mokena newspapers beginning with issues from 1919. Please check back periodically as additional editions are added. We extend our sincere thanks to Robert Horras for allowing us to digitize his personal newspaper collection.
MicroFilm Reader
The Mokena Community Public Library offers usage of a Microfilm Reader to our patrons as part of our makerspace.
We have a collection of local history microfilm at the library:
Mokena News Bulletin 1919-1969
Frankfort/Mokena Star 1976-October 10, 2007
Southtown Star December 2007-2014
United Evangelical Church Mokena 1858-1874
St. John’s Church Mokena 1874-1992
General Members Records 1864-1867
South Suburban Genealogy Society Cemetery Index
Please contact us for an access request to view any local history mircofilm.
What is a MicroFilm Reader?
A specialized device that uses a light source and lens system to magnify, display, and sometimes print, miniaturized images stored on microfilm reels (16mm or 35mm) or microfiche sheets. Commonly used in libraries and archives, these machines allow researchers to view historical newspapers, records, and books that are otherwise too small to read with the human eye.
See our makerspace page for additional details here.