Book-Finding Web Site Will Be Helpful 4U

Genealogists are among the world's most voracious readers. Perhaps that is due, in part, to the fact that we have to be well-versed in so many topics in order to research and understand the wide variety of records that produce genealogical material.

When family historians attend lectures and classes, the presenter's handouts should contain suggested reading materials or the sources used to construct the program. Invariably, members of the audience ask where they can find the recommended materials.

My longstanding answer has been to check with Amazon .com or Barnes & Noble - either online or at a bricks-and-mortar store. My new answer is to recommend BookFinder4U (www.bookfinder4u .com).

This site does not sell books. When you enter a search for a specific title, it quickly checks 130 bookstores and gives you a list of where you can find a particular book. It then gives you a comparative list sorted from lowest to high price. You also get the bookstore names, shipping rates, taxes, total prices, condition of the books, processing and shipping times. Clicking onto your selection takes you to the vendor's Web site.

I did a test run on the site for one of the standard genealogy reference books, "Land and Property Research" by Wade Hone. The best price for a new copy is $33.86 through Buy .com, where I learned that it was "temporarily sold out" but I could "order now to get in line." The book is available through Barnes & Noble for $67.49. So getting in the Buy .com line will save you $33.63, if you don't mind waiting.

By checking for one of my favorite reference books, "Women and the Law of Property" by Marylynn Salmon, I found many used copies in the $10 price range and new copies ranging from $25 to $40.

If you really are a bargain shopper, be prepared to spend some time studying all the links you'll find from BookFinder4U. In the tests I ran, each vendor I checked offered links to cheaper, used copies of the book.

Learning More

I am teaching a basic American genealogy class at the SouthShore Regional Library. One of my students recently told me she wished she knew half of what I know about genealogy. The good news is that not only can she know half what I do, she can surpass me if she really wants to.

We all start out as beginners. But I wanted to learn, so there was no stopping me.

The thing about genealogy is that you can't succeed if you just dabble in it - those who first peer into this realm realize quickly it is overwhelming - at which point they lose interest and walk away - or they are sucked into the thrill of discovery and learning.

Hobbyists and professionals alike have to learn good basic research techniques, and they educate themselves. Certainly it helps if you can afford to attend national conferences sponsored by the National Genealogical Society (www.ngs genealogy.org) and the Federation of Genealogical Societies ( www.fgs.org).

It is even better if you can attend institutes such as the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, held each June at Samford University in Birmingham (www.samford .edu/schools/ighr), or the National Institute on Genealogical Research (www.rootsweb .ancestry.com/~natgenin), held each summer in Washington, D.C.

If you're into cruising, there is nothing more fun than learning on one of the genealogy cruises periodically mentioned in this column.

If your funds or health don't allow you to participate in those activities, you can find quality education closer to home.

The Tampa area is blessed with a number of genealogical societies that sponsor monthly meetings, each with a speaker who usually offers valuable information.

Some of these include the Florida Genealogical Society Tampa ( www.fgstampa.org), the Imperial Polk Genealogical Society ( www.ipgs.org), the Manasota Genealogical Society ( www.rootsweb.ancestry .com/~flmgs), the Pasco County Genealogical Society ( www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flpcgs), the South Bay Genealogical Society (www.rootsweb .ancestry.com/~flsbgs) and the Pinellas County Genealogical Society (www.rootsweb .ancestry.com/~flpgs).

These groups welcome nonmembers at most of their meetings but can exist only if devotees pay dues to support them. The fees usually are nominal, in the $20-a-year range. Check them out at their Web sites.

There also is a statewide organization, Florida State Genealogical Society (www .rootsweb.ancestry.com/~flsgs) that holds a two-day annual conference packed with educational opportunities.

I try to mention as many meetings and seminars as possible in this column. You can learn a lot browsing the Internet or reading books on your own, but listening to lectures and socializing with those who share your interests can make going to meetings worth the time, effort, and cost. So get out from behind that computer and mix it up a bit!

Jewish Society Meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet May 18 at 2 p.m. at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater.

Bill Israel will present a lecture, The Anatomy of a Family Reunion. He's well-qualified for this program. Israel has played a key role in planning and organizing 15 of his family reunions and also has assisted his wife in establishing reunions for her family. His family reunions are held every two years and typically attract more than 100 family members. These are weekend affairs with a program of planned activities designed to reconnect family members, tell the family story and show everyone a good time. The family even has its own guide for planning their reunions.

For information on the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay or directions to the meeting, call Sally Israel at (727) 343-1652.