The MGS Library and Resource Centre is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba at Unit E, 1045 St. James Street. This is north of the Polo Park Shopping Centre located between Ellice Avenue and Sargent Avenue. It is tucked in the corner of the L-shaped strip mall across the parking lot from The Brick store. There is lots of free parking.
Bus Stops/Routes Servicing 1045 St James Street
St James Street Northbound Stops are: 10370 Ellice and 10371 Sargent
St James Street Southbound Stops are: 20005 Sargent and 20004 Ellice
Ellice Avenue Westbound Stop: 10493 St. James
Ellice Avenue Eastbound Stop: 20088 St. James
Sargent Avenue Westbound Stop: 10450 St. James
Sargent Avenue Eastbound Stop: 20082 St. James
Click to Enlarge
Route 11 – Portage-Kildonan
Route 12 – William
Route 14 – St. Mary’s-Ellice
Route 15 – Sargent-Mountain
Route 20 – Watt-Academy
Route 26 – Logan – Berry
Route 77 – Crosstown North
Hours of Operation
The library will be open two Saturdays per month starting October 16, 2021, open from 10 am to 3 pm.
Please check our calendar to confirm Saturday opening dates.
We operate entirely with Volunteers, so it is a good idea to call ahead to make sure we are open. Special opening times may be arranged in advance for school groups or other organizations. If you have any inquiries, please phone 204-783-9139.
Who Can Use the Library/Resource Centre?
Online Library Catalogue - KOHA
Resources Available at Library/Resource Centre
- On-site access (free while in the Library) to:
- Ancestry – Library Edition
- Newspaper Archive – Note our license is for only one user at a time. Includes Winnipeg Free Press.
A special Thank You to Southeast and Winnipeg Branch of MGS for providing these services at the resource centre.
-
- In total, MGS has over 10,000 items (books, microfiche, maps, periodicals, etc.) in the library
- Periodicals – approximately 60 journals, newsletters etc. from other genealogical organizations
- MANI – our online database where you can search all MGS indexes at once.
- Genealogical Handbooks, other reference materials and research aids.
- Cemetery indexes – transcriptions on tombstones for over 1400 cemeteries throughout Manitoba.
- Manitoba Crown Lands Registries – index listing land description for major land grants and homesteads.
- Early Newspaper Obituary Index – births, marriages and deaths found in selected rural Manitoba newspapers 1859 to 1887 and in Winnipeg newspapers from 1859 to mid 1890s.
- Index to Recent Obituaries in Winnipeg papers – from 1968 to the present, compiled and updated every quarter.
- Manitoba local and family history books – approximately 900 books.
- Manitoba Early Censuses – 1870, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1906, 1911, 1916, 1921
- Henderson Directories – Manitoba addresses and residents from 1876 to 1908, Winnipeg addresses and residents from 1908 to end of publication in 1999.
- Anglican Marriage, Baptism and Death indexes from over 60 churches from the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. Years range from 1813 to 1925.
- Some Catholic Marriage Indexes – Years range from 1834 to 1982.
- United Church Archives – marriage, baptism and burial indexes for a large number of Manitoba and N.W. Ontario charges.
Borrowing From The Library
Unless marked as Reference, all books in our library are available for MGS members to borrow. You can borrow up to six books/periodicals or CDs/DVDs at a time for three weeks.
Renewals are usually allowed as long as no other member has requested to borrow the same item(s).
Mailing System for Out-of-Winnipeg Members
For members living outside of Winnipeg, MGS has a special low library mailing rate from Canada Post. The cost of postage for two-way delivery (to your home and back to MGS) is extremely reasonable, so do not hesitate to borrow items.
Here are some examples of mailing costs from Winnipeg to several Canadian destinations for a large Local History Book (8½” x 11” x 2”)
(Estimated total cost both ways):
Dauphin. MB $ 0.92 + G.S.T.
Brandon, MB $ 0.92 + G.S.T.
Yorkton, SK $ l.49 + G.S.T.
Nanaimo, BC $ 3.12 + G.S.T.
Long distance members should contact the library about availability of books and postage costs by e-mailing library@mbgenealogy.com.
Copying Equipment Available
Copies can also be sent to a printer from any of the computers – $0.25 per side
We have a microfilm reader – printer copies available $0.25 each
We have a microfilm scanner where scans can be saved to your own device (memory stick) on the attached computer or printed on one of our printers – $0.25 each
Scanning of material owned or copyrighted by MGS is same cost as copier – $0.25
Documents can be scanned using our photocopier and saved to a memory stick – $0.25
Library Volunteers Needed
The MGS Library/Resource Centre provides members the opportunity to share in expanding the Society’s resources, with special emphasis on Manitoba sources.
Projects which are available include:
Index of obituaries from local newspapers.
Index of Anglican Baptisms and Marriages.
Index of United Church Sacramental Registers.
Index of the Manitoba Census.
Cemetery Transcriptions.
Refreshments /Lunch
Click to enlarge view of restaurants in our mall.
Visit our MGS Store for services and products.
Many MGS volunteers have spent countless hours over the years transcribing and indexing monumental inscriptions for about 1400 cemeteries in Manitoba. The indexes are available electronically on the computers at the library and as paper copies onsite or online. Copies of most cemetery transcriptions may be purchased through MGS. Visit the cemetery transcripts page for more information. Contact us at 204-783-9139 or library@mbgenealogy.com .
Learn More about Cemetery Transcriptions