[Genealib] Inhouse Genealogy Consultations

[Lyn Meehan]

Hello!

I first started this service in the Fall 2005, after finding several beginner or stumped family historians/genealogists coming to reference for guidance with our Heritage Room Collection. The service I provided in my tours involves the following:

 

1.	a quick reference interview customer finding out where they are researching, and what brick-walls they have run into;
2.	make the one-hour appointment; 
3.	working various shifts, I tend to accommodate the patron, allowing them to come any part of the day;
4.	we make a rule of not doing the research; but prepare a brief list, and pull the most important books for recommended reading for this region for the patron to peruse;
5.	I will also pull specialty references: local histories, census and land indexes, archival finding aids, notes from past conferences if the material is relative to the patrons research parameters;
6.	suggest a few titles that are for overcoming "brick-walls";
7.	they are given a tour of our facilities, showing where the circulating: 929's are, genealogical maps, genealogical and historical periodicals, newspapers on microfilm, census on microfilm, Peel Collection and Prairie Directories (microfiche), etc.
8.	will give a brief training with regards to our website and licensed databases;
9.	also make several outside referrals: city, municipal, provincial/state archives; specialized genealogical societies EEGS (Eastern European Genealogical Society), etc.
10.	and pull from my own personal knowledge base, 25+ year specialty in genealogy;
11.	our service is free, and called "One-on-One Genealogical Tours"

The service was so successful that I have expanded our programming into another successful 5-part genealogical series called "Surfing for the Elusive Ancestor"; and when first announced, this free program was filled in two weeks. This programming promotes and provides training on the genealogical and historical databases license by EPL or available via the Internet. We have a beautiful training room with 37 computers where I can promote and train in a tutorial style, having fun along with it.

 

The presentation is given in a two-hour session, three weeks apart, in a power-point format or live Internet searching, plus provides a book display on the topic for that night. The 5-part series includes:

1.	EPL catalogue and genealogical database
2.	Library and Archives Canada
3.	HeritageQuest and PERSI
4.	Ancestry Library Edition
5.	Family History Library; and the Biographical and Genealogical Master Index (BGMI)

Hope this is helpful,

 

Lyn Meehan

Information Services Division

Edmonton Public Library

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

 

 

  
________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu on behalf of Joanne McCarthy
Sent: Tue 3/6/2007 7:21 AM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: [Genealib] Inhouse Genealogy Consultations



Hi everyone,

we are considering expanding our genealogy programming at the Halifax
Public Libraries, here in Nova Scotia.

An idea came up about offering a one-on-one genealogy consultation
service for our patrons. We already do this for our business patrons,
introducing them to materials and resources inhouse. We also make
referrals to other agencies within the community who offer like-minded
service. We typically book them for 45 minutes before the library opens
so they get one on one service

Am thinking of doing the same for genealogy. We wouldn't be doing the
research,but showing patrons how to use primary source indexes, local
history, how to manuals, internet, as well as suggesting courses of
action. Ie) "have you looked at census records yet"...

Does anyone offer this type of service and would be willing to offer
advice or suggestions on how to pull this off? Does anyone charge for
this or consider this a free service, etc, etc.

all the best
Joanne

Joanne McCarthy
Reference Librarian
Halifax Regional Library
5381 Spring Garden Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 1E9
902-490-5813 (phone)
902-490-5746 (fax)
www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca                                

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