Professional Help
For various reasons, you may at some point wish to engage a professional genealogist to do research on your behalf. A common reason is that records are not available online or through interlibrary loan and you are unable to visit the repository because you live at a distance.
At VPL
If you are unable to visit the Vancouver Public Library in person to use the genealogy collection, you can get basic assistance by telephone, email, or by mailing a written query. For more information see the Vancouver Public Library’s Contact Us page.
Vancouver Public Library staff can provide guidance in understanding how to find and use genealogy resources and can help with quick look-ups. They are unable to undertake in-depth family history research on your behalf. If you require extended help researching the Vancouver Public Library’s genealogy collection, please contact InfoAction, the Library’s fee-for-service department. In response to your query, InfoAction will provide an estimate before any work is undertaken on your behalf.
Beyond VPL
For assistance in searching records at other repositories, a number of options are available.
Genealogical Societies
Consider contacting a local genealogical society. Many societies offer cost-effective basic genealogical research services.
To find a Society in a particular location, Google one of the following search strategies including the name of the place of interest as seen in this example using Shropshire, England:
- Shropshire genealogical society
- Shropshire family history society
- Shropshire genealogical association
- Shropshire family history association
Societies & Groups.
Many Canadian societies are listed on the Library and Archives's Genealogy and Family History Genealogical Societies page. A local genealogical society may also be able to provide referrals to local private researchers who can do detailed research.
Libraries and Archives
Look at library and archive websites. Some maintain lists of researchers that are available for hire.
- Library and Archives Canada – Hire a Researcher
- B.C. Archives – Professional Researchers
- Archives of Ontario – Freelance Researchers List (bottom of page)
Professional Directories
Check online directories of professional genealogists.
- Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives - a searchable listing of researchers in England, Scotland and Wales
- Association of Professional Genealogists - a U.S.-based site with international listings
- Board for Certification of Genealogists - a U.S.-based site with international listings
- Bureau québécois d'attestation de compétence en généalogie - a Quebec-based listing of researchers
- International Commission for the Accreditation of Genealogists - a searchable database of accredited genealogists based in Salt Lake City
Genealogy Magazines
Peruse popular genealogy magazines. Many freelance genealogists advertise their services in these magazines. The Vancouver Public Library has current subscriptions to the a number of genealogical periodicals published in Canada, the United States and the British Isles, including:
- The British Columbia Genealogist [British Columbia]
- Family Chronicle [Canada]
- Family History Monthly [United Kingdom]
- Family Tree Magazine [United Kingdom]
- Internet Genealogy [Canada]