Library

The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International Library is housed within the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) Library. MGS does not participate in the Inter Library Loan program. The collection does not circulate and is available for research only at the MGS library. Staffed by volunteers, the CGSI library collection of over 1,300 volumes complements other area library holdings. There is a $10 charge for non-member use of the library.

Location

The Minnesota Genealogy Society (MGS) library has moved to 1185 Concord Street in So. St. Paul, MN. Accessable via the 71B bus. The library is on the second floor of the four story building across from the Marathon Gas Station. Take the elevator or walk up to the second floor. Turn left to the library. Phone number is 651-455-9057

Library Hours

Note 1: The second Thursday (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) of each month is Czech and Slovak night. On these nights, the Library is staffed by CGSI volunteers.

Note 2: The first Saturday (1:00 -4:00 PM) of each month is Czech and Slovak day.
On these days, the Library is staffed by CGSI volunteers.

Special Ethnic Staffing of the Library
During certain times of the month different groups will have volunteers running the MGS Library. This means a person (or more) at the MGS Library will more likely be able to help you with your ethnic research.

The Library will be closed on the following days in 2010

• April 3
• May 20
• July 3
• Sept. 4
• Nov. 25
• Nov. 27
• Dec 14, 2010 – Dec. 31 Holidays

Research Resources

In order to make library resources more accessible to members, we now offer fee-based library research services. An “S“ at the end of any book or resource listing means that you can request that a CGSI volunteer search that particular resource for a specified name, place, or defined piece of information. See our CGSI Library Research Policy for cost. We will be identifying these searchable books and resources as an ongoing project and expect to be completed by Fall 2009. Check back often.

We still provide, at NO CHARGE for members, help on deciphering town names in documents, locating town or villages, providing postal codes, and advising on correspondence to the Czechoslovak region.

Requests should be sent to CGSI , P.O. Box 16225, St. Paul, MN 55116. Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope along with your request.

MGS LIBRARY COLLECTION

The MGS Library Collection is housed in the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) library. The MGS library is organized into the following groupings:

Foreign – Each ethnic group has their ethnic specific book holdings on separate shelves with call numbers that identify the group; for example, all CGSI books in the “Foreign” group have a call number beginning with Frgn Cze.

State – All holdings in this category are grouped by state; call numbers for books in this category begin with US, with the second entry designating the state; for example, the call number for all books in the Wisconsin section would begin with US WI, for Nebraska with US NE, etc. CGSI’s holdings for a specific state are included on the respective state shelf along with those owned by other groups.

Family History – All books in the “Family History” category are also grouped together in the library. Call numbers for this category begin with FH. CGSI’s family histories are included in this grouping.

Maps – Each ethnic group has their specific map holdings in separate map cabinets. The call numbers for CGSI’s maps begin with Map Cze.

Searching the Online MGS Library Catalog
The section titled Searching the Online MGS Library Catalog explains how to find CGSI’s books within the MGS library.