Podcast Summary: Family Tree Magazine Podcast
Episode: Exploring WorldCat.org – An Interview with Sunny Jane Morton
Host: Lisa Louise Cooke
Guest: Sunny Jane Morton (Family Tree Magazine Contributing Editor)
Date: February 15, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke interviews Sunny Jane Morton about the power and utility of WorldCat.org for genealogy research. They discuss how WorldCat—one of the world’s largest library catalogs—can help researchers discover a variety of books, articles, and resources crucial for family historians, often for free and sometimes closer than expected. The episode is full of practical tips, real-world examples, and encouragement for genealogists to make the most of this underutilized tool.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
What is WorldCat.org? [01:28]
- Definition: WorldCat is a massive, multi-library catalog, aggregating the holdings of thousands of libraries around the world.
- Over 400 million books, 440 million articles, tens of millions of theses/dissertations, and other materials like maps, musical scores, and sound recordings.
- Accessible and free for users.
- Quote:
"WorldCat and this huge multi library catalog where it's basically the world's card catalogs. Remember that old phrase at your fingertips?"
— Sunny Morton [01:55]
Free Accounts & Additional Features [02:37]
- Creating a free account is optional but unlocks more features (lists, saved searches).
- Everything remains free; the account just gives flexibility.
Finding Materials Near You [03:12]
- Local Results: Enter your location to find the nearest library holding a resource.
- Personal Example: Sunny recalls finding a rare book at a theological seminary just three miles from her house, which she never expected.
- She contacted the private seminary, who kindly let her use the book.
- Quote:
"Lisa. There was a theological seminary three miles from my house that listed a copy of this. I'm like, what? What?...I actually showed up. I just...I figured out their hours, and I showed up at their desk."
— Sunny Morton [03:44]
Integration with FamilySearch [04:59]
- New FamilySearch catalog entries now link directly to WorldCat for broader availability.
- Ideal when the Family History Library in Salt Lake City doesn't have what you need.
- Quote:
"So now there is another link that says, look at the WorldCat search results and it will take you right over and dump you right on the landing page for that exact resource in WorldCat."
— Sunny Morton [05:12]
Limitations and Library Coverage [06:20]
- WorldCat is extensive but not exhaustive—records only what's in its partner libraries.
- Some rare or original materials might not be listed, as WorldCat is primarily a library (not a manuscript) catalog.
Beyond Public Libraries [06:49]
- Includes corporate, institutional, and specialized libraries (like theological seminaries).
Leveraging Librarians for Local Lookups [08:02]
- Even if you can't visit, you can request lookups from genealogy or reference librarians—the hosts highlight how local genealogy staff are often eager to help.
- Quote:
"That's another thing. Even if you don't need the book physically to come to you, sometimes you just need access to a person who's willing to look it up in their library."
— Sunny Morton [08:43]
Using WorldCat to Expand Research [10:00]
- Use subject and category assignments in WorldCat to browse related works (as you might browse shelves in a physical library).
- Sunny demonstrates how exploring subject tags led her to even more resources for her obituaries lecture.
- Quote:
"I scrolled down in that entry...there's a whole subject list...I clicked on that 19th century link, and it brought me to all kinds of additional topic or additional resources on that same topic."
— Sunny Morton [10:37]
Creating & Sharing Research Lists [11:31]
- Users with accounts can create and organize lists for subjects or family names.
- Public lists let you see what others researching similar topics have gathered—Lisa shares her experience following another user's Burkett family history list.
- Quote:
"Most people interested in that one obscure book might be somebody I'd be interested to see if they're looking at other things...you can in a way follow it almost like on social media."
— Lisa Louise Cooke [12:45]
Searching by Topic, Not Just Titles [13:38]
- The search bar is robust; you don't need exact titles—search by broad terms, subjects, or authors.
- Sunny's example: Searching for “cloistered poor Clare's” yielded detailed local histories.
Regular Use & Genealogy Best Practice [14:18]
- WorldCat’s collection is always growing. Bookmarking WorldCat and making it a daily habit is recommended.
- Quote:
"I think I probably use it every research day of my life."
— Sunny Morton [14:34]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Joy of Discovery:
"A few minutes at WorldCat could save you so much time, so much headache."
— Lisa Louise Cooke [04:39] -
On the Collaborative Spirit:
"In the spirit of collaboration, we can also decide whether we want to make our lists public or private, and maybe help somebody else, too."
— Lisa Louise Cooke [13:19] -
On Making Use of Librarians:
"Because they're going to have a person there who wants to answer your question."
— Sunny Morton [09:20]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:28 – What is WorldCat?
- 03:12 – Example: Finding Local Resources via WorldCat
- 04:59 – Integration with FamilySearch’s Catalog
- 06:20 – Coverage Limitations
- 08:02 – Using Librarians for Local Lookups
- 10:00 – Browsing (Subject/Category Search) and Expanding Research
- 11:31 – Creating and Following Research Lists
- 13:38 – Searching by Broad Topics
- 14:18 – The Importance of Frequent Use
Wrap-Up & Further Resources
Sunny Morton briefly discusses her ongoing research into US denominational records and Catholic archives, highlighting the generosity and value of religious order archives. She invites listeners to connect with her via Facebook or her website (sunnymorton.com). The episode concludes with Lisa Louise Cooke urging listeners to bookmark WorldCat and integrate it into their regular genealogy workflow.
Recommendation:
If you’re a genealogist or family historian, WorldCat.org is an indispensable, free resource for finding and leveraging materials from libraries worldwide. Whether you’re searching for a rare book, exploring related resources, or collaborating with fellow researchers, WorldCat should be at the top of your research toolkit.