Most libraries have a selection of guides to family history research, available for loan and reference use. These describe the range of sources in libraries, museums, record offices, etc., and how to use them. They should be used to plan your research initially, and for later problem solving. Suggested introductory titles include:

General

• HERBER, Mark, Ancestral Trails: the complete guide to British genealogy and family history (Stroud Sutton, 1998) ISBN 0750914181

• COX, Jane, Never Been Here Before: a Genealogists' Guide to the Family Records Centre (Public Record Office, 1997) ISBN 1873162413

• COX, Jane, New to Kew: a First Time Guide for Family Historians at the Public Record Office, Kew (Public Record Office, 1997) ISBN 1873162405

• FITZHUGH, Terrick, Dictionary of Genealogy (5th ed. 1998.) ISBN 0713648597

• Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers (Phillimore, 2nd ed. 1995) ISBN 0850339502
  • Many larger libraries also hold various Gibson guides to the location of sources, and McLaughlin guides and other Federation of Family History Society booklets which describe how to use sources. The Genealogical and research directory: national and international (by K. Johnson & M. Sainty, annual) and The Big R (Federation of Family History),on microfiche, both list family history researchers and the names they are working on.

  • The Federation of Family History Societies is publishing an excellent series of genealogical bibliographies county by county, listing many books and articles useful to researchers whose family came from a particular county.

• ROGERS, Colin, The Family Tree Detective (3rd ed. 1997) ISBN 0719052130

Irish

• DAVIS, B., An Introduction to Irish research: Irish Ancestry, a Beginner's Guide (Federation of Family History Societies, 2nd ed., 1994) ISBN 1872094910

• GRENHAM, J., Tracing your Irish ancestors: the Complete Guide (Gill & Macmillan, 1992) ISBN 0717118983

• HELFERTY, S., & REFAUSSE, R., (eds.) Directory of Irish Archives (Irish Academic Press, 2nd ed. 1993) ISBN 0716525089

• IRISH FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY, Directory of Parish Registers Indexed in Ireland (Irish Family History Society, 3rd ed. 1997) ISSN 07917511

• MAC CONGHAIL, M., & GORRY, P., Tracing Irish Ancestors (Harper Collins, 1997) ISBN 0004720954

• MAXWELL, I., Tracing Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland (Stationery Office, 1997) ISBN 0114958238

• MITCHELL, B., A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996) ISBN 0806311525

• REID, N., (ed.) Table of Church of Ireland Parochial Records and Copies (Irish Family History Society, 1994)

• RYAN, J., Irish Records: Sources for Family and Local History (Ancestry, 3rd ed. 1997)

Scottish

• CORY, K., Tracing your Scottish ancestry (Polygon, 2nd ed., 1996) ISBN 0748660542

• JAMES, A., Scottish Roots: Step-by-step Guide for Ancestor-hunters in Scotland and Overseas (Saltire Society, rev. ed., 1995) ISBN 0854110666

• SINCLAIR, C., Tracing your Scottish ancestors: a guide to ancestry research in the Scottish Record Office (The Stationery Office, rev. ed., 1997) ISBN 0114958653

Welsh

• HAMILTON-EDWARDS, G., In Search of Welsh Ancestry (Phillimore, 1986). ISBN 0850335639

• ROWLANDS, J., Welsh Family History: a Guide to Research (Association of Family History of Wales, 1993). ISBN 095207207X