It's time for the annual fall genealogy program at Braswell Memorial Library.

If genealogy has been a sometimes hobby for you, or if you are a serious researcher or even if you have never done family research but are interested in starting, our program is for you.

This year's topic is "Why Genealogists Need the Law" and is presented by Kathy Gunter Sullivan, a certified genealogist. (Certified genealogist is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.)

Ms. Sullivan is very knowledgeable of her topic.

"The law is complex, and its language is foreign," she said about her program. "Nevertheless, researchers and historians must understand the legal system in effect during the time period being studied. This presentation focuses on how the law can answer troublesome research questions. It gives specific examples touching on probate, land and other important legal situations affecting people and is accompanied by a syllabus and supplementary handouts. A question-and-answer period follows the presentation."

So please come! If you are just getting started, the folks "in the know" at the program can give you advice and help after the program, and the more advanced researcher will certainly learn something new.

The program is from 10:30 to noon Saturday in the library's Warner Meeting Room. It is sponsored by the Tar River Connections Genealogical Society and Braswell Memorial Library. If you are interested in attending, please call me at 442-1951 ext. 247 or send an e-mail to me at tthompson@braswell-library.org to register. And feel free to share this information with anyone interested.

Traci Thompson is the local history and genealogy librarian at Braswell Memorial Library.