SCGS President's Message: Summer 2026

Hello and welcome to summer!

It has been a busy spring for our Society volunteers. In addition to working in the library, we have presented webinars, hosted interest group meetings both in person and online, and participated in a well-received exhibition at Glendale Central Library. Meanwhile, a dedicated team continues the search for a new home for the Society and library, which we are considering renaming the Southern California Genealogical Society Library and Resource Center to better reflect the services, resources, and educational opportunities we provide today and plan to expand in the future.

Odilia Romero Yego by Marcus Lyon; used with artist's permission

In May, SCGS participated in the opening of Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels at ReflectSpace in Glendale Central Library. Members of our DNA Interest Group staffed an information table during the reception, sharing information about DNA testing and family history research with visitors. (See our related story and photo gallery from the exhibition.)

Library News

As many of you know, SCGS has faced financial challenges in recent years, primarily because of the high cost of our current lease. As a result, the Board of Directors has decided not to renew our lease beyond its current extension, which expires on November 30, 2026, and has begun searching for a more affordable location.

Our preference is to remain within the city of Burbank, but the search team has explored potential sites from Northridge to North Hollywood, Pasadena, and points in between. The challenges are considerable. We require adequate space for library bookstacks, climate control, accessibility, parking, and a convenient location—all at a sustainable cost. The team has toured numerous properties in business parks and retail areas, and the search continues.

A Call for a New Home

If you live in the San Fernando Valley (including Glendale and Pasadena) and know of a possible location, we would love to hear from you.

Ideally, we are seeking approximately 4,000 square feet, including a large open area of at least 2,000 square feet dedicated to library bookstacks. (For comparison, the current library occupies approximately 4,000 square feet, while the classroom, offices, restrooms, and storage areas add another 1,500 square feet.)

Please send any leads—including a location and contact information—to scgs@scgsgenealogy.com. We will follow up with our real estate brokerage firm, Zacuto Group.

Honoring Our Volunteers

Before reporting on the latest library projects, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the many volunteers who spend countless hours processing books and periodicals, assisting researchers, and helping keep the library running smoothly.

The list of names is too long to include here, but I would like to offer special thanks to the members of the Library Operations Committee. They greet patrons and visitors, tackle behind-the-scenes tasks, develop creative solutions to challenges, and perform the painstaking work of evaluating and withdrawing materials. They truly are the heart and soul of the SCGS Library, and we could not function without them.

To recognize their dedication, a Volunteer Luncheon will be held on June 6 at the library.

From left: Barbara Gaitley, Beth Stone, Cathy Romero, Gordon Seyffert, Louise Ratliff, and California Genealogical Society Manuscripts Committee Co-Chairs Laura Jones and Janet Netz. On April 30, CGS collected more than 40 boxes of SCGS manuscript files for digitization, helping preserve these family history resources and make them accessible to researchers worldwide. Not pictured: Lyn Young and Nuala Gasser.

Preserving and Sharing Family History

As we prepare for a future move, several projects are underway to reduce the space needed for books, study areas, offices, and storage.

Earlier this year, the library's manuscript files were boxed by SCGS volunteers and transferred to the California Genealogical Society (CGS) for digitization. This collection consists of thousands of folders containing family history materials, surname files, and geographic research compiled and donated by members over the past 40 to 50 years.

Not available online and seldom used in recent years, these files would not fit comfortably within the smaller space we expect to occupy in the future. When Laura Jones of CGS learned of our need to find a new home for the collection, she and Manuscripts Committee Co-Chair Janet Netz worked with the CGS board to arrange its transfer to Berkeley.

On April 30, members of our Library Operations Committee helped load more than 40 boxes onto a rental truck bound for Northern California. Once digitized, these valuable resources will become available to researchers everywhere.

What a terrific collaboration! We are tremendously indebted to CGS for helping preserve and share these materials with future generations.

Building a Smaller, More Accessible Collection

At the same time, volunteers have been carefully reviewing the library's book collection to identify materials that are now widely available online. Many of these books can be accessed digitally through links provided in our online catalog.

Digital access offers several advantages. Researchers can view materials from home, enlarge images for easier reading, and search text electronically without relying on indexes.

In addition to books, we will eventually withdraw most periodicals from the collection. These publications are rarely consulted and often lack indexes. Many, however, are indexed in PERSI (the Periodical Source Index), and individual articles can be obtained through the Allen County Public Library for a nominal fee.

We encourage members to visit the library during open hours to browse withdrawn books and periodicals. Materials are available only in person and cannot be shipped. Donations in support of SCGS are greatly appreciated.

Annual Open House: July 11

One of our favorite traditions returns on Saturday, July 11, 2026, when SCGS hosts its annual Open House.

The library will be open to welcome members, guests, and newcomers. Doors open at 10 a.m., and volunteers will be available at information tables beginning at 11 a.m. The event concludes at 2 p.m.

This may be our last opportunity to gather in our Irving Street home before moving to a new location, making this year's Open House especially meaningful.

Visitors will find:

• Tables hosted by many of our interest groups and library volunteers.

• Opportunities to learn about geographic research specialties, DNA, genealogy software, and volunteer opportunities.

• A Member2Member gathering area for questions, research assistance, and conversation.

• Withdrawn books and periodicals available for adoption.

• Door prizes, including books, mugs, and a one-year SCGS membership.

• Lunch and refreshments in the classroom.

  
  

Whether you are a longtime member or new to family history, we hope you will join us for a day of learning, fellowship, and fun.

Come see what all the fuss and fun are about—and help us celebrate the community that makes SCGS such a special place.