We are thrilled to welcome the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, to our family of institutional partners offering free public access to My China Roots! Now all onsite visitors can search over 5+ million records of Chinese ancestors on our database, completely free.
As of September 2024, My China Roots is available at these libraries and universities with a valid login or ID:
- Alameda County Library
- Allen County Public Library (on-site access)
- UC Berkeley Ethnic Studies Library (on-site access)
- Boston Public Library
- FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City (on-site access)
- Los Angeles Public Library
- Marin County Free Public Library
- Mill Valley Public Library
- San Francisco Public Library
- Stanford University
- And more to come!
“Why is My China Roots partnering with libraries and schools?”
Home to the largest searchable collection of historical records for the Chinese Diaspora, My China Roots is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the lives and legacies of Chinese ancestors and immigrants across history.
By partnering with cultural institutions, we are committed to making our entire database fully accessible at no cost to members of the public, especially students, researchers, and educators.
Together, we hope to foster an ecosystem of discovery where anyone interested in Chinese heritage or genealogy research can get started easily.
“How do I access My China Roots through my institution?”
Check if your institution is listed here, then login with your credentials, such as a library card or school ID.
If your institution is marked as “on-site access only,” then visit your library or school in person to login for free using the local computers or network.
“My institution isn’t listed as a partner. How do I bring My China Roots Database to my community?”
Your support goes a long way! Simply reach out to your local library or school, and ask them to subscribe to My China Roots.
Here’s how: Visit your library website and look for a “Contact Us” or “Suggest a Purchase” form. Then use this template to get the conversation started:
Hello!
My name is [name] and I’m a resident of [location]. I would like to ask whether the [library name] would be willing to subscribe to the Chinese genealogy platform, My China Roots?
https://mychinarootslibrary.com
This database is already available at the San Francisco Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, and Boston Public Library, among others.
This resource would have much value for me because [insert reasons or ways you’d benefit, e.g. it will help me progress in my Chinese family history research].
Thank you for considering my request!
Sincerely,
[Name]
We’ve emailed hundreds of institutions to date, and in the process we’ve learned: Institutions are much more likely to subscribe if local residents speak up to request a resource.
Your voice matters, so if you’re interested at all, don’t hesitate to contact your local institution. We greatly appreciate your proactive support!
If you have any questions or thoughts, please email our Global Collections Director Clotilde Yap at clotildeyap@mychinaroots.com.
Questions, feedback, or bug reports?
Login and share your thoughts or email feedback@mychinaroots.com. We’re all ears to how we can improve and create better resources to support your family history journey.
Be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter and follow @mychinaroots on social media to stay updated on new features all year round!
