SGS LIBRARY AND RESEARCH ROOM
The Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Library and Research Room is located in Room 110 - 1514 11th Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan. The SGS Library is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society and is open to the public. It is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. . The library is closed between Christmas and New Years. The library also closes on Friday and Saturday during the Annual Conference and the Annual Meeting. See Hours for the list of Saturday openings.
The Saskatchewan Genealogical Society's Library and Research Room and Office is scent free.
The Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Library and Research Room is made up of materials based on the needs and interests of its membership and the general public. These resources range from how to get started doing research in each area to indexes and records that enable the researcher to trace their ancestors from Saskatchewan back to the 1600's in Canada and the United States, the 1500's in Great Britain and Scandinavia and the 1700's in Europe. A selection of gazetteers and maps help the researcher to find the names and locations of communities their ancestors lived in. This information helps with learning the current names of communities and points to possible locations where the records they need could be found today.
The SGS Library and Research Room collection began with how-to books and a collection of genealogies put together by members. As the membership grew, so did the collection. At the end of 2008 the collection consisted of 21,031 books, 804 periodicals, 35,728 microform, 587 maps, 10 videos and 42 CD-Roms. Total value of the collection is presently in excess of $354,078. The value of the collection grows about $10,000 per year.
Beginning with the publication of the first Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Bulletin, the lists of the new materials added to the SGS collection have been listed in each edition of the Bulletin. In 1971, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1986 and 1993, copies of the library collection were published and made available to the membership. The computer program used for the 1992 edition quickly became obsolete so no new copies of the SGS Library List are available, but there are still copies of the 1992 edition available for borrowing. SGS has purchased a commercial library program and has begun entering the resources in it. Once this is complete, copies will likely be available on CD-Rom.
Articles about the special collections for Ontario, Quebec, United States, British Isles, Europe, the Metis Scrip records have been printed in the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Bulletin. Copies of these articles are also found on SGS Web site in our Special Collections Section. Only members of the Society are able to access these records in person but SGS will do research for members and non-member. Monies raised through research help purchase more materials for the library.
An important part of the library collection is the obituary, cemetery and Saskatchewan Resident Index programs. Members and non-members from throughout the province volunteer their time to update and maintain the valuable collections. The obituary collection was begun in 1972 with obituaries from the Regina Leader Post and the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Since that time some 750,000 obituaries have been collected. The majority date from 1985 but there are many from the 1800's.
The Cemetery Collection was begun in 1975 to locate cemeteries and private burial sites throughout the province. To date 3,425 cemeteries and/or burial sites in 299 Rural Municipalities are registered with copies of records for 2,430 of these sites in the collection. The list of sites and those for which there are records is found on SGS Cemetery Index web page. The public as well as members may access the cemetery collection in person. Searches for a fee can be made for those who cannot come to the library. The fees enable SGS to maintain the cemetery program.
The Saskatchewan Residents Index (SRI) was started as the 25th Anniversary project. It is a database with more than 2.9 million names taken from local histories, Cummins Maps, Voters’ Lists, cemetery records, school year books and some city and rural directories. Information is continually being added to the data base. There is a $1 fee charged to use the database and .15¢ per page to have printouts made. Searches for a fee can be made for those who cannot come to the library. This fee helps cover computer costs.
In addition to the collections of materials that make up the collection found in the main library of SGS there are two very important collections that were established for the branches of the society. The first is the Core Collection, a group of books given to each branch when they were formed. The other is the Floater Collection, a group of over 300 books that are duplicate of some of the most popular books found in the main collection that are exchanged between the branches at the Annual Meeting.
Some branches of SGS maintain small libraries. Their collections are sometimes found in the local public library. Borrowing restrictions prevail. These branches may have purchased microfilm copies of their local newspaper and begun indexing birth, marriage and death items. Contact the local branch for more information about their collection and research policies. Funds raised through research enable branches to continue indexing projects. Please support their efforts.
SGS library and office is a SCENT FREE environment.
