Looking for your ancestors, and wondering who they were, where they came from, and how their stories shaped your history?

Genealogy research can involve costly subscriptions and hard-to-find records, but the Free Library of Philadelphia has many tools you can use, and all you need is a library card, whether you’re just starting your family tree or digging deeper into your heritage.

Here are just some of the resources the library has available.

Ancestry Library Edition: One of the most popular genealogy tools in the world, Ancestry Library Edition gives you access to billions of historical records, including census data, military records and immigration documents. It’s a great starting point for finding relatives and building your family tree. Note: This resource is available for in-library use only.

HeritageQuest Online: This genealogy database includes U.S. census records, city directories, family histories and more. It’s useful for beginners and experienced researchers alike. Unlike Ancestry Library Edition, it’s available on the go.

America’s Obituaries and Death Notices – HeritageHub: Looking for personal stories and connections? This resource provides access to millions of obituaries and death notices from across the United States. These newspaper records can help you uncover details about family members’ lives, relationships and community ties.

My China Roots: If you have Chinese ancestry, My China Roots offers specialized tools to help you trace your lineage. It features historical documents like zupus (Chinese family tree books), burials and immigration records. This resource connects users with expert research support.

A comprehensive listing of the library’s genealogy resources is here, libwww.freelibrary.org/explore/topic/genealogy.