[Genealib] Declining use of collection

Thu Dec 7 11:04:42 EST 2006

Monitoring message boards for your county and posting replies to
inquiries is a great idea.  I do that for the West Virginia Cemeteries
list, especially to publicize our newspaper collection for obit searches
and our online Vital Research Records (and that we have many other death
records and indexes that are not available online).  This generates
research letters for which we earn fees, creates word of mouth
discussion, and sometimes results in actual visits to the library.  

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 Rhonda
Stoffer
	Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 10:35 AM
	To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
	Subject: RE: [Genealib] Declining use of collection
	Importance: Low

	We have done both. I have been able to build on a great
collection. We have completed indexing all obits from 1867 to the
present, we have microfilm copies of birth and death records from 1882
to 1980 and are completing indexes for those. We have microfilmed
marriage records from 1831 to 2004 and are nearing the end of having all
of those indexed. I have expanded the basic collection from the
neighboring counties and have information from all counties in Indiana
and am continuing to purchase new materials from Indiana counties. I
have started to expand into Ohio and North Carolina. We are nearing the
end of a project to put our indexes on the web, hope to soon have it
available to the public. This database will include all obits, death,
marriages, births, and cemeteries in the county when completed. I'm sure
when the database goes live, we will be even busier. 

	Another thing that has helped is I check the Rootsweb message
board for Grant county daily and answer any queries that I can on the
board. I will check our indexes and let people know if their information
is available and refer them to the Ask the Indiana Room link on our
webpage to request copies of documents if they want them. I hear
comments from patrons that they have seen my posts and thank me for
taking the time to reply to queries and help people. 

	Rhonda Stoffer 
	Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services 
	Marion Public Library 

  _____  

	From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Susan
Scouras
	Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 10:16 AM
	To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
	Subject: RE: [Genealib] Declining use of collection

	We receive exactly the same compliments, and you are right that
word of mouth about the helpfulness of your staff will bring people in
and keep them coming back.  I am betting that you have either added
significant resources to your collection and/or have made your
collections more accessible through your indexing projects, and that has
helped bring in patrons.  

	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 Rhonda
Stoffer
		Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 10:02 AM
		To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
		Subject: RE: [Genealib] Declining use of collection
		Importance: Low

		We have seen an increase here at Marion. I've been head
of the department since March 2001. According to statistics from Jan
2001 to the present, we have increased visitors every year except 2004,
when we were down very slightly. This year so far we have been above our
monthly average of visitors every month except November. So far we are
10% above last years numbers, even without counting December visitors.
We do little outside advertising, I speak at a couple community groups a
year when asked, and we try to do 2 beginning genealogy classes a year,
which are well attended. Most of our increase comes from word of mouth.
The staff in the Indiana Room provides fantastic service to patrons. We
are constantly being told that we are friendly, helpful and that we have
wonderful resources, not just on Grant county, but surrounding counties.
Patrons tell us that when they go to other libraries, staff there are
not helpful, some libraries have all the books locked up and staff do
not want to be bothered to get books out for them. We try to be very
user friendly and are very successful. We once had a elderly couple
drive here from over 100 miles south of us because someone told them to
go to Marion, they will help you there. We provide email, phone and mail
queries and those are increasing. We have increased our number of
volunteers and they are very busy helping us to complete indexes. 

		Rhonda Stoffer 
		Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services 
		Marion Public Library 

  _____  

		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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