In celebration of Family History Month in October, the Genealogy Division of the Waco-McLennan County Library System and the Central Texas Genealogical Society, will sponsor the ninth annual Genealogy Lock-in on Oct. 17 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the central library, 1717 Austin Ave.

The event is free and open to anyone interested in genealogy.

This year's lock-in will feature Max Blankfield, vice president of operations and marketing at Family Tree DNA, who will be lecturing and answering questions related to DNA.

New genealogists may join the Genealogy Beginners Class for a hands-on presentation of the database ancestry library edition.

Re-enactors also will offer a taste of how ancestors might have lived.

Professional genealogists will be on hand to discuss courthouse research, Texas church records, research in Texas and Missouri, migration settlement patterns (especially those of ethnic groups), sources and records, Scandinavian research, Indian research and more.

Purpose of the lock-in is to showcase the library's genealogy collection and provide an awareness of the hereditary and historical societies represented in the area.

The event will include genealogical advice, instruction, food and door prizes.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and registration is until 7:30 p.m. There will be no admittance after 7:30 p.m., and participants may leave at any time.

Library facilities other than genealogy will not be available for use during the lock-in. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For information, contact Bill Buckner, manager of the periodicals/ genealogy division, at (254) 750-5945 or send an e-mail to bbuckner@ci.waco.tx.us.