[Genealib] Declining use of collection

[Susan Scouras]

We have also seen a decline in traveling patrons since 9/11.  Numbers
were dropping before then, but took an apparently permanent downturn
from that point.  We recently ran a series of workshops on weekday
evenings to try to increase patronage on Monday through Thursday nights
when we are open until 8 p.m.  After a few poorly attended
presentations, we started issuing full press releases, with great
results.  The first two times I presented a workshop on using newspapers
(we have a very large collection of microfilmed newspapers from all 55
counties, some going back into the 1800's, plus current subscriptions to
all newspapers in the state) in family and local history research, I had
2 or 3 participants.  After a press release, I had 50 at the next one.
We also got some TV and radio coverage.  Once the holidays are past, we
plan to offer another round, repeating some topics and introducing new
ones.  All of the workshops were conducted by staff members who spoke
about topics they specialize in and for which the Library has at least
one major related collection or resource.  One of the more successful
evenings was a demonstration session on what resources we have on our
Web site and how to navigate the site, presented by our Web master.  
 
We have offered the Library Reading Room for "field trip" society
meetings, with or without a presentation by staff or library tours, and
have only had one taker in six months, a DAR chapter.  We will probably
push this again.
 
We publish a monthly newsletter that is mailed to all the societies in
the state, distributed in the Library, and posted online every month.
[http://www.wvculture.org/history/ahnews.html, November and December
issues should be posted soon. Usually we have it available in the first
week of the month.]  I have rudimentary indexes on the Web site, and the
newsletter is indexed by PERSI.  Like Jim Jeffreys, I try to publicize
resources available only in the Library and not on the Web, and the
value of reference help from experienced staff.  
 
We acquired a subscription to HeritageQuest about two years ago, and to
Ancestry Library Edition last fall.  Although we have publicized it, we
have not picked up the extra patrons we expected, particularly in the
evenings.  (Parking is an issue here during the day, and practically
impossible the two months the Legislature is in session, so we promote
evenings and weekends plus the many holidays we are open as great times
to visit the Archives and History Library.)  No other library in this
area subscribes to either service any longer, so we expected more
interest from the public than we have seen so far.  Has anyone offered
classes or any type of presentation, by your own staff or by Ancestry
reps, that has resulted in a measurable increase in usage?
 
Susan Scouras
Librarian
WV Archives and History Library
The Cultural Center
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
Charleston, WV  25305-0300
(304) 558-0230, Ext. 742
 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Mary Van
Orsdol
	Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 6:42 PM
	To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
	Subject: [Genealib] Declining use of collection
	
	
	Over the past 5 years, we have seen a decline in the number of
researchers who come in to use the Carlsbad City (CA) Library Genealogy
Collection. I would like to know if other genealogy departments have
seen declines in usage. And, I would like to know about programs,
publicity, or other efforts taken to increase usage.
	 
	Thank you.
	 
	Mary Van Orsdol
	Genealogy Librarian
	Carlsbad City Library
	1250 Carlsbad Village Drive
	Carlsbad, CA 92008
	(760) 434-2930
	mvano at ci.carlsbad.ca.us

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