Gifts for your favorite genealogist?

The holidays are just around the corner. Perplexed about what to get for your favorite genealogist? Here are suggestions to consider. For some of them, the deadline is November 30 - so take advantage of the possibilities

Why not an initial subscription or a renewal to a major data site?

Choose from Footnote.com, NewspaperArchive.com (see the special offer of 60% off the regular price for page reproductions!) GenealogyBank.com, WorldVitalRecords.com or, for those with major UK roots, FindMyPast.com.

What about magazine or journal subscriptions or renewals?

Family Tree Magazine, Family Chronicle and others. For researchers of Jewish families, Avotaynu: The International Journal of Jewish Genealogy, is a must. Avotaynu is now offering a 50% sale on subscriptions along with 10% and 20% on books (November 30 is the deadline for this!).

For the more scientific-minded, why not gift a Y-DNA, mtDNA or combination test at FamilyTreeDNA?

The company is offering major promotional prices for the holidays. Tests must be ordered and paid for by December 31, 2009. On January 1, 2010, prices go up, so why not do it now? That's the company to go to because it has the largest comparative databases in the industry. For researchers of Jewish families, that's even more important as the largest Jewish DNA comparative database is within the larger one.

What about memberships in national or local genealogy societies?

Major societies, including some Jewish genealogical societies, often have members' sections on their websites that only paid members can access. These may include many indexes and unusual databases. Some societies also include a monthly or quarterly journal hat comes with membership.

There's also the option to make it possible for a friend or relative to attend a major annual conference of great interest.

Who wouldn't want to receive a gift of registration for a conference like the 2010 IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, (Los Angeles, July 11-16), or the Southern California Genealogy Society Jamboree 2010 (Burbank, June 11-13)?

Some sites are offering holiday sales now, like Avotaynu and also the Family Tree Shop at Family Tree Magazine.

Family Tree Magazine is discounting many items in its Family Tree Shop. Even better, register to win your very own "wish list" of items (up to $150). Learn more and register here. Four lucky winners will be announced on December 3, so put this on your to-do list.

The magazine is offering sale prices on items covering various topics and research areas, including CDs. A good buy is the Family Tree Magazine 2008 CD with all the 2008 issues, containing 480 pages. Articles are searchable, printable and portable. Click directly to all featured websites from the CD. After a 21% discount, the sale price is $18.99. Click here and browse for items of interest.

We all know how expensive genealogy books can be, but here's a chance - from Avotaynu - to stock up on resources genealogical at a discount through November 30.

If you're already a subscriber to Avotaynu - and you should be if Jewish genealogy is important to you - receive discounts on useful reference books. If you're not yet a subscriber, now's the time to get a 50% discount to the journal - and the other discounts.

Current subscribers must click here for the discounts, which include a 20% discount on Avotaynu on CD-Rom, a 15% discount on some excellent genealogical reference works, and a 10% discount on all other books. Shipping charges added. Read the information at the site for all the important details.

Avotaynu on CD-Rom contains all issues for the first 24 years (1985–2008) with 93 issues and 5,700 pages, fully searchable (Windows/Vista only). The sale price is $79.60. If you already have it, the upgrade's sale price is $31.95. Tracing the Tribe thinks this full set would be a great gift for a beginning genealogist of any age.

Have fun checking out gifts for others and adding to your own wish list!