[Genealib] How do we spend our time?

[Chris Tinney]

This problem can be resolved by placing online
general information, re: genealogy,
EXAMPLE:
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/genealogyucd.htm

as well as a "tour" of the library.
EXAMPLE:
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/genealogyucd.htm#tour

A study of the local system also helps.
EXAMPLE:
http://www.academic-genealogy.com/melvyluniversityofcaliforniagenealogyfamilyhistory.htm

"Brannan, Joyce A." <jbrannan at uwa.edu> wrote:   That sums up the problem very well. Local genealogy information does belong in the library, just as much as any other information a person might want. The problem is how do we spend our time? We simply cannot do all the research for everyone that enters a library, whether it is a college student that wants us to find 10 articles on their assigned topic or someone that wants to see everything you have on their gg-grandmother in 1862. How much time can we really spend teaching people how to use a computer? This morning I had someone who literally didn't realize that you have to read the screen to find out what to do. We have people come in that we actually have to teach how to scroll and use a mouse.

Genealogy is a special research area. Not every librarian is going to be interested or skilled in that area. A small town librarian cannot be, though they are expected to be, everything for all people. We find genealogists can be very frustrating. We have our family and local history finding aids online so that people will know exactly what we do have. Almost no one who comes in asking for that type of info has bothered to look at it. We are small, have a limited staff, and our archives are not always accessable. We have posted on line that an appointment is recommended because walk-ins might not be able to be helped. But people are still angry when they pop in on a Sat. morning and no one is here to find what they need in the archives. 

Joyce A. Brannan
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL 35470

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu on behalf of Catharine Schwarz
Sent: Tue 8/7/2007 9:11 AM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: Re: [Genealib] One library's approach to genealogy



Why wouldn't genealogy information be part of a library. It is the history
of people and places just as much as geography and biography are, however,
the librarian shouldn't have to do the research for others.
Catharine Schwarz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Kemp" 
To: "Librarians Serving Genealogists" 
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 6:23 AM
Subject: [Genealib] One library's approach to genealogy


> >From a news article on the progress of the Dixon (MO) Library.
> Waynesville Daily Guide - 24 Jul 2007
>
> 
> Board members also agreed to remove the Dixon library's genealogy
> collection from [Head Librarian, Charlotte] Henry's duties and turn it
> over to a volunteer.
>
> "Genealogy is not part of the librarian's job; she does not have time
> to do it, I'll tell you," [Library Board President Shirley] Wise said.
>
> "I don't know how it ever got to be part of the library anyway, except
> that we have genealogy stuff in the cabinet," Henry said.
> 
>
> For the complete article see:
> http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/articles/2007/07/24/news/news05.txt
> _______________________________________________
> genealib mailing list
> genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
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>


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