Research Services
Updated May 15, 2023.
The Pennsylvania Room offers paid research services for patrons who are seeking information about Centre County families and history, but who prefer that library staff do the research.
To begin the project, please complete and return the Research Request Form. The form can be completed digitally by the patron, saved to the patron’s desktop, and attached to an email addressed to paroom@centrecountylibrary.org. Research will begin after payment is received; payments may be made via cash, check, or credit card.
For questions, please phone (814) 355-1516 Extension 1007.
General Genealogy Research, Step by Step
STEP ONE: Research Request Form
Most searches begin with the completion, by the patron, of the Research Request Form. Occasionally, patrons begin by emailing or phoning their requests. Depending upon the complexity of the request, the patron may then be asked to complete the Research Request Form (below).
STEP TWO: Preliminary Search
Before deep general research begins, staff completes preliminary research (approximately 30 minutes to an hour) at no cost to determine whether materials exist which would warrant more thorough research. If the preliminary search reveals a few items, but does not suggest the existence of additional in-depth materials, the initial documents will be scanned and emailed to the patron free of charge and research will be considered complete.
STEP THREE: Genealogical Research:
If the preliminary search reveals that the CCLHM (Centre County Library and Historical Museum) collection may yield more material than can be researched in 30 minutes, payment will be requested from the patron for a deep search. The rate is $20/ hr. which includes the scanning and emailing of any documents pertaining to the research. For new genealogical projects, a two hour minimum is requested ($40). Charges are payable by check or credit card.
What can a “deep search” do? A paid deep search includes, at no extra charge, scanning and emailing of relevant materials from the collection. It also guarantees that PA Room and Historical Museum librarians apply experienced research skills to the project for a specified number of hours.
What sort of items are included? Resources to be searched include library indexes, book and manuscript collections, government documents, including estates, tax records, marriage records, death records and obituaries. Staff has access to:
The Library Edition of Ancestry.com, which is a more robust version of what is available for home us.
Family Search, as a member of the Affiliate Library program.
Webia at no additional cost to the patron. This is the digital record of Centre County records that includes deeds, taces, and other records. Some of these records may also be held, hard-copy, in the basement at CCLHM.
Access to numerous file collections of media clippings on historical subjects
Cemetery records, Orphan’s Court records, Road Petitions, some Civil and Criminal Court records
National Historic Landmark applications
Extensive collection of county histories for Pennsylvania
Extensive collection of family histories from Centre County
Inventory guide to 57,000+ artifacts in the Historical Museum.
Payment for general genealogy research covers research time by skilled staff and includes scanning of relevant documents (no additional charge). There is unfortunately no way to guarantee that specific or plentiful documentation related to the patron’s research question(s) will be found regardless of the time spent searching the collection and digital resources.
Other Services:
Occasionally, a patron will request exact documents which are needed for their own genealogical research, avoiding the need for deep research by staff. Scanned copies can be made of individual documents in the CCLHM collection, including, but not limited to, obituaries, marriage license applications, cemetery locations, tax records, and newspaper articles. Fees for scanned copies of these and other resources are estimated based upon the size and complexity of the request. All scan requests start at $20.00/hr.
If the staff is not able to assist with the request, a professional genealogist may be recommended for further research.
