FORT MYERS, Fla., March 2, 2005- One of the country's leading genealogy experts,  Kory Meyerink, a librarian at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and founder/director of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, will speak this Saturday, at the Cape Coral - Lee County Public Library. This free day-long presentation "German Genealogical Research" is a rare opportunity for anyone of German ancestory, who has an interest in exploring family history.

Meyerink says genealogy is rapidly growing in popularity around the country and has even inspired a new kind of tourism- individuals and genealogy groups visiting a series of towns, cities or rural areas where they believe ancestors may have lived. There, they explore the area and local records. 

But Meyerink says you don't have to go to another country, speak another language or even know whether you have German ancestory to get started exploring your family history. 

"Because German-speaking people have played such a significant role in the historical, social and economic development of  Europe and around the world, many people have German ancestory, or have family records that are kept in German; even information for families from Russia or Poland may be available in German records."

"The first part of the seminar teaches that these records are available. The second teaches techniques for using records, how they're arranged and how to access them. Then, I show how to read them."

Meyerink says this can be the biggest stumbling block.

"Most people are intimidated by seeing records in a foreign language and foreign handwriting. I teach concepts that make it easier to understand the language and handwriting. People learn they can do this with just a few key words and concepts."

The final presentation of the day deals with government and church records. Meyerink says church records are most important.

" Because the government in Germany didn't start keeping records of births and deaths until the 1870s, churches are the main source for information before that time."

Meyerink says exploring family history doesn't have to involve a great deal of time.

"One of the wonderful things about tracing history, is that it's personal. You determine for yourself what you want to learn and how far you want to go."

Seats are still available for this free program.

German Genealogical Research
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 5

Preregistration required. Please call the Cape Coral - Lee County Public Library at             (239) 542-3953. to reserve your space. The Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library is located at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace in Cape Coral.