­The Stearns History Museum, in partnership with the Great River Regional Library, is holding free scanning events in area communities. Bring your family photos or other documents important to your family history to be scanned with professional equipment. You will go home with a digital copy of your materials. Registration is required. Time slots are 30 minutes with a limit of one time slot per person. Oversized materials and negatives take longer to scan than other materials. Bring your own flash drive. The Museum will have flash drives available to purchase for $5.

• November 3, Cold Spring Library, Noon to 3 p.m. 
• November 3, Richmond Library, 4 to 7:30 p.m.
• November 7, Belgrade Library, 9 a.m. to noon
• November 7, Paynesville Library, 2 to 6 p.m.
• November 8, Stearns History Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• November 13, Clearwater Library, 3-6 p.m.
• November 13, Melrose Library, 10 a.m. to noon
• November 13, Sauk Centre Library, 2-7 p.m.
• November 15, St. Cloud Public Library, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chris Schuelke, the executive director of the Otter Tail Historical Society, will discuss the history of the state's most famous state hospital. The hospital opened in 1890 to care for patients with mental illness. Presented by the Stearns History Museum, cost is free for Museum members and $10 for nonmembers.

Visit the website of Stearns History Museum to view numerous events they have.

Price: Virtual is free. In-person pricing will be available on RootsTech.org when announced.

Although the next RootsTech event is happening in March of 2026, it is never too early to put it on your calendar! This annual genealogy conference is a hybrid event, meaning you can participate online or in person. RootsTech in person usually includes exclusive classes and personal interaction with exhibitors in the Expo Hall. Online attendees can enjoy hundreds of virtual sessions in many languages, and the online conference experience is free! Whichever way you attend RootsTech, keynote speakers will electrify and motivate you in all things genealogy and family history. This conference covers a large variety of topics and is appropriate for all levels of genealogy researchers.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/