Updated April 11, 2001

Library Resources

Introduction
This is a general information guide about the types of resources we have available in the library, and where they can be found. All library materials are now in the computer catalogue and indexed with subject headings, except for some of the archival documents.

Books and Booklets
The library contains about 900 books and more than 800 booklets. These materials are arranged on the shelves by geographical and subject divisions. Each shelf has a location code as listed below:

Location Codes

AUS - Australia	BR- Britain	BR-E - England
BR-I - Ireland	BR-S - Scotland	BR-W - Wales
C - Canada	EUR - Europe	FAM - Family Histories
HN - Haldimand Norfolk	HW - Hamilton Wentworth	N - Niagara Region
O - Ontario	OX - Oxford County	Oversize - oversize materials
QREF - Quick Reference	US - United States	WE - Wellington County

Brant Publications
Some of the most useful information available in our library is in the branch's own publications. These include cemetery listings, church records, voter's lists, indexes, directories, etc. All 326 publications are available in the library and shelved together in green binders in order of publication number. A publications list is available in the front of the first binder. Copies of some publications have also been placed on the various subject shelves. These publications have been assigned subject headings and can be located using the computer catalogue. In the computer, the location code for publications is PUB, and the call number is the publication number. (Publications are also available for sale)

Cemetery Records
The library has a copies on CD ROM of the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid (OCFA) versions 5 and 6. Most Brant County cemetery listings are available as publications, and can be found on the publications shelf. We also have scattered cemetery listings from other Ontario counties, as well as relatively full listings for the Niagara region, Sault District, Elgin, Essex and Simcoe counties. These can be found on the shelves of the various counties or the Ontario shelf.

Directories
The library has a set of Brantford City Directories from 1924 and Brantford phone books from 1966 to the present. Some 19^th century Brant County and Brantford directories are also available. Vernon's city directories are also available for some other Ontario cities. The library also has a number of genealogical directories for Canada, Great Britain and the United States

Census Materials
The library contains many scattered census records from Ontario counties and townships in the 19^th century. Most useful to local researchers will be the full 1901 Census for Brant County, the index to the 1871 Census for all Ontario (full census available for Onondaga County), The 1861 Census for the City of Brantford, the index for 1851 Census for Brant County, and the 1842 Census of Indian Lands in Brant County.

Microfilm Materials
Microfiche and microfilm materials are available in the microfilm reading room equipped with fiche and film readers and a copier. These materials are marked with location code MICR in the catalogue. The collection includes the Church of Latter Day Saints' International Genealogical Index for the British Isles (1984, 1988 incomplete), USA (1984, and Canada (1984, 1988).

Maps
Individual maps are located in the vertical file, and large atlases are on the Oversize shelf. The library has a range of maps of Canada, Ontario and the British Isles. For local researchers, the historical atlases of Brant (1875) and Norfolk (1877) and Wellington(1906) counties are very useful. The library also has the Tremaine Map of Brant County (1858) which is indexed and copies of the map are on sale in the library.

Vertical File
The Vertical File contains clippings, pamphlets and genealogical information collected by our members. The file is divided into a general subject file, and a Brant County file. Materials are listed in the computer catalogue with a VF location code.

Surname Materials
Materials that relate to specific family names are available in several places. One drawer in the Vertical File is devoted to loose information and queries/replies by family name. The library also has a collection of archival materials arranged in family name folders collected by a devoted amateur genealogist, the late Opal Howey. Bound family histories are located on the FAM shelf, in alphabetical order by surname. The library also maintains a card drawer with names being searched and contact names. A separate computer catalogue called Surname Finder provides library users with a "one stop" reference to family name resources.

Periodicals
The OGS Brant County Branch library has a large and growing collection of newsletters and journals of other genealogical societies in Ontario, Canada, and farther afield. Donations have also provided the library with a rich retrospective collection of general genealogical journals, including the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, the Genealogical Helper, Genealogists' Magazine, Family Chronicle, etc. Periodicals are either shelved together with the books depending on their region of origin, or on the periodical shelves. Ontario Genealogical Society publications are arranged by region on the PER-O shelf, and other Canadian genealogical publications on the PER-C shelf.