Anne Billeter is library director and board member at Rogue Valley Genealogical Society. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune]

Editor’s note: Community Builder is a periodic Q& A series providing perspectives from local people involved in significant change in Southern Oregon. Today’s conversation is with Anne Billeter, library director and board member of Rogue Valley Genealogical Society.

Q: How does the Genealogical Society assist people in researching their family heritage?

Anne: We teach classes, offer mentoring, have free monthly programs and help people organize their research. We offer extensive library and internet resources to our members.

Q: Why do people get involved in genealogical research?

Anne: It varies. There are people who just do a DNA test out of general curiosity about their ethnic background. Others may be looking for a lost family member. Some people have unexpected surprises when they discover a person they thought was their father or their grandfather really isn’t. This can open up relationships with newly discovered half-sisters or grandparents that changes their life.

Q: What drew you to genealogy?

Anne: I love the detective aspect of finding answers to questions. Unexpectedly, I found I love learning about history. I was not engaged in history in school; I was an English major. Now history is alive because I’m…