“Can you give me a copy of my family tree?” Librarians often receive requests like this from beginning genealogists — as if everyone's family history has already been recorded and filed away, and all you have to do is ask for it. Family research still isn't quite that simple, but the Internet has made the whole process easier than ever before.

In fact, the Web abounds with sites that can help you trace your family tree. You'll find everything from how-to guides and message boards to vital-records indexes and images of actual census records. But that expanse of Internet sites can overwhelm genealogy newbies: You're not sure where to start, or which sites hold the information you need. So to point your mouse in the right direction, we'll highlight 10 online tools that no family historian should research without — and give you tips to surf the Web successfully.