There are many books on the subject of adoption, but be sure to look at the date of publication. Adoption laws have changed a great deal in the past ten years, so sources that tell you how to search should be recently published. Sources that talk about how adoptees feel can be published years ago and still be useful.
A list of books that might be helpful are contained in the bibliography at the back of this book. Check the backs of other books where relevant books are listed. Some organizations such as the Adoptive Families Association have a library of recommended books that you can borrow.
Check your area and decide which ones might answer your questions. They have names such as: Adoptive Families Association (a good place for adoptees to find information as well), Parent Finders, Adoption Support Group, Adoptive Families of Native Children, First Nations Reunification (for First Nations adoptees looking for birth families). Phone and ask about the organization's purpose, meeting times, and who attends. Look for an adoptee support group, or an Adoptive Parents Association for both adoptees and adoptive parents.
Many organizations put out regular newsletters. You can get a list of the newsletters from the library and from the Internet.
Some libraries allow time on their computers to browse the Internet, where you can find recent information and sometimes birth parents. Canadopt and various U.S. Web sites offer names of birth mothers and family members if they are looking for you. Remember to take the information, but don't respond immediately. Talk about your feelings and plans with a trusted adult who can help counsel you before you take the next step to contact that name. Be prepared for the disappointment if the name you contact is not the person you seek, of, if it is, be prepared for the possibility of rejection.
The following are some addresses that you can check. Internet addresses change quickly, so you may need to search “adoptee search” or “adoption” to find new or different sources. Don't put your name and address on the Internet unless you are prepared for weird, strange, even unscrupulous contacts. Internet addresses change each day so these addresses may have disappeared. You will find others, though, and some can be useful.
www.webreflection.com/aiml/uslaws.html
laws concerning adoption records in the U.S.
www.nebula.on.ca/canadopt
offers a path to many informative sites
www.psy.ucsd.edu/~jhartung/adopt.inf
how to search
www.psy.ucsd.edu/~jhartung/open.html
U.S. and Canada legislation on open records
www.psy.ucsd.edu/~jhartung/Canada.txt
organizations in Canada—with many interesting and useful links
www.members.aol.com/TRIAD2271/index.html
excellent site with advice and hints on how to search
www.absnw.com/reunions/bookstore/
provides information on books