From the Reference Desk
Replacing Your Vital Documents
What would happen if you lost your birth certificate, driver’s license, passport or medicare card? What if your house flooded and photographs or precious furniture pieces were damaged? What can you do about damaged money or savings bonds? Don’t worry, the USA.gov website has an answer for all of those situations and more, compiled into one webpage with easy-to-follow links. From address changes to copies of your federal tax returns, this one-stop shopping website can be a lifesaver. Check it out!
The LaFrance Genealogy Database
All who have French-Canadian ancestors will love this new database available as part of the Monroe County Library System’s Online Resources. Users will have access to birth, baptism, marriage, death, and burial records in “The French America” since the beginning of European settlements (some records as early as 1621). The database is searchable by individual, by couple, or by place specifying a precise date or time frame, and will lead to scanned images of original documents. Search pages may be displayed in...
100 Milestone Documents from the National Records and Archives Division
Ever wonder what the check for the purchase of Alaska looks like? How about Eli Whitney’s patent for the Cotton Gin, or the Instrument of Surrender document used in 1945 when Japan surrendered? All of these documents, and 97 more are available to view from the comfort of your home. 100 Milestone Documents chronicles the history of the U.S. from 1776 to 1965. According to the website these documents “helped shape the national character, and they reflect our diversity, our unity, and our commitment as a nation to continue our work...
How Long To Keep Receipts And Other Paperwork
Tax season is about to begin, and many taxpayers are looking through old receipts wondering what to keep and what to pitch. What about all those other papers that have accumulated over the years? The following website articles will help you clean out your files for a less cluttered New Year. USA.gov recommends breaking household records up into an “Active File” that deals with “documents and financial records you deal with on a regular basis,” and a “Dead Storage” file consisting of any...
Technology Buying Guides
The holidays are a time of year when many people are searching for evaluations for the newest technology products. While many branches of the Monroe County Library System carry a subscription to Consumer Reports, a second opinion is often desired. PC Magazine Online offers reviews for such technology products as Laptops, Tablets, Phones, HDTVs, Security software and much more. For each product type, users can search by price range, company, or category. They also link to articles that will help users with “Buying Basics,” “Top-Rated...
Pass It On Campaign
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s consumer protection agency. The agency works hard to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices. These types of practices have become commonplace, and the FTC wants to educate the public about these scams. The PASS IT ON Campaign urges people that have been taken in by scams and other fraudulent business practices to share their experiences with friends, family, and other acquaintances. By hearing about these experiences from trusted sources, others are less...
Housing And Rental Assistance Options In Monroe County
The Monroe County Opportunity Program (MCOP) offers a number of housing programs. Two of these programs include: Rental Assistance Program – This program helps residents apply for rental assistance. Individuals will receive a decision notice once they fill out and submit a State of Emergency Relief (SER) form through the DHS. Other guidelines exist. Qualifications and contact information can be found on the website. Housing Assistance for Veterans - Through their Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program,...
Free Online Search Tool For Vehicle Recalls
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration (NHTSA) has unveiled a new, free, online search tool for consumers to determine if a vehicle is directly impacted by a recall. The new tool is available at https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ and provides users with a quick and easy way to identify recalls by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into a search field. Instructions for what the search tool covers and what it does not cover are included on the search page. A VIN is...
New Service From The Secretary Of State
Now Available from the Secretary of State - Just in time for the August 5 election: "It's time to vote" text and email reminders For the first time, Michigan voters can sign-up to receive free text or email reminders from the Michigan Secretary of State's office whenever an upcoming election is around the corner. To sign up, go to michigan.gov/sos and click on the red envelope located with all the social media icons towards the bottom of the page. After inputting your email or mobile phone number, you will be asked...
National Sex Offender Public Website
(NSOPW) National Sex Offender Public Website According to its website, The NSOPW is the only U.S. Government Website that links public state, territorial, and tribal sex offender registries into one national search site where concerned residents, parents, and employers can search and identify location information on sex offenders residing, working and attending school in nearby neighborhoods. It is provided by the United States Department of Justice, managed by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending,...
Have a Question?
Digital Collections
