Introduction: This paper reports on doctoral research which investigated the online research behaviour of family historians, from the overall perspective of local studies collections and developing online services for family historians. Method: A hybrid (primarily ethnographic) study was employed using qualitative diaries and shadowing, to examine research behaviour. Twenty-three family historians completed paper-based diaries over a six-month period, capturing their research behaviour. Eleven researchers were shadowed, allowing direct observation of undirected research behaviour and of directed queries. Analysis: A thematic inductive analysis was conducted; qualitative data from both sources were coded using NVivo to identify recurrent issues and key themes arising from the data. Results: Patterns in behaviour were categorised as actions, strategies and outcomes. Personal and social elements of research were very important, supporting the findings of Yakel and Fulton in this regard. Needs were both informational and affective, with a great deal of personal involvement and commitment. Participants displayed many traits of well-developed information literacy. Conclusions: A model of online research behaviour is proposed, which is circular yet continuous; this illustrates a search that repeats yet extends, and with every revolution a researcher's knowledge of background issues and context grows.