Take advantage of this facility to determine the size of their collection, what genealogical materials they might have, or to check for specific titles in their collection. If you're looking for the address of the courthouse, the coroner's office, the city offices that issue licenses and certificates, and other government entities, most will have a Web page. Here you may find a full directory of services and contacts, or you may find only a central telephone number. Call ahead for hours and to ask specific questions about materials available to the public. Search the Web for genealogical and historical societies.
Many societies maintain Web pages about themselves.
Since these are a wealth of information and rare materials, it is very important to make contact in advance of your trip. Call in advance to make an appointment to meet with someone from the organization, determine what materials they possess, and arrange to gain access for research purposes. Contact religious institutions. If you know the church to which your ancestor or family member belonged, make contact in advance to determine what records they may have. Older records are often sent to a central religious facility, such as an archive, for storage.