Research Family History/Genealogy
Among the 18 libraries in the Brevard County System, there are three with genealogy collections that are available to the public for in-library use during regular library hours.
The
Titusville Public Library and the
Melbourne Public Library both have genealogy rooms that are staffed by volunteers from the local genealogy societies at various times.
The Central Brevard Library and Reference Center in Cocoa has the largest collection, which began in 1989 when the Brevard Genealogical Society was given a room at the library in which to house their materials. Over the years the collection grew and in 2002 the library received the entire contents of the genealogy collection amassed by Brevard Community College. The collection at Central is staffed full time and offers the assistance of a certified genealogist. It is housed on the second floor of the library and shares its space with Federal and Florida State Documents. This collection specializes on the states east of the Mississippi with emphasis on Virginia, Pennsylvania, New England, military records, and the southern states.
A large reference collection also includes books on various Ethnic groups and how to books on researching in various countries outside the U.S. Other highlights of this collection are CD-ROM's and microfilm and microfiche holdings, which includes the county's earliest newspapers as well as the early Brevard County Courthouse records. Materials from the library's collection are not available on interlibrary loan but are loaned to other branches within the system. The library also offers classes on various genealogical topics and hosts the Brevard Genealogical Society's extensive Beginning Genealogy Class.
You may contact the Genealogy Department at (321) 633-1794.
Ancestry Databases
Ancestry Library Edition
- Census data, family records, local histories, tax lists, city directories, land
and probate records, birth, marriage and death records, etc.
* This database is only available at the
Central Brevard Library and Reference Center,
Melbourne Public Library, and
Titusville Public Library.
HeritageQuest
- Over 1.2 billion records in a comprehensive source of information for genealogical
and local history research.
* Because of licensing restrictions, this database is only accessible in the Genealogical
Collection at
Central Brevard Library and Reference Center.