[Genealib] Question for librarians in historical societies

[Susan Scouras]

While not an employee of a society, I can offer an example.  Mining Your
History Foundation (MYHF)is a statewide genealogical/historical society
founded with three goals:  networking among similar WV organizations,
dissemination of information and representation of WV groups on regional
and national levels, and support of the West Virginia State Archives.
Membership is available for both individuals and societies.  MYHF is a
generous supporter of the West Virginia Archives and History Library,
donating new and used (out-of-print) books several times a year, and
contributing toward purchase of microfilm printers, etc., when the need
arises.  MYHF also conducts our annual Hoot Owl overnight research
lockin.  Not only do they return most of the fees collected for this
event over to the Archives in the form of book donations, but the
substantial amount of photocopying and other fees collected that evening
go straight into the Library's coffers.  Their Web site is
http://www.rootsweb.com/~myhf/.  Since none of the other societies in
West Virginia are truly active statewide, MYHF has filled a gap in that
regard.  Also, since they are not strictly a "friends of the library"
group, they have more to offer the societies who join, including FGS
representation.  

While MYHF's success in raising funds from our cash-strapped and
struggling-for-membership societies has waxed and waned over the years,
the statewide organization has proved adept at coaxing local groups to
at least donate copies of their publications and subscription
newsletters to the Archives Library.  (I have always felt guilty about
this, since I think we should be able to support local groups by
purchasing their materials, but we have never had the budget to do so.)

Regarding the book donations, MYHF works closely with us in determining
where there are gaps in the collection that need to be addressed, or in
selecting specific titles we would like to have or need to replace.
Past projects include purchasing all of the marriage index/transcription
books they could find for Virginia and West Virginia counties, and
greatly expanding our collection of census, birth, death and marriage
books for Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland counties on West
Virginia borders.  Since many of these books are available only in
paperback or spiral bindings, MYHF sometimes has donated funds for
bindery costs as well.


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 Cynthia Van
Ness
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 5:31 PM
To: genealib
Subject: [Genealib] Question for librarians in historical societies


I wanted to toss out a question to my colleagues who work in historical
societies.  Do any of you have "Friends" groups who specifically support
the library's collections, programs, needs, etc.?  I understand that
every member of the society is in effect a Friend.  I was just wondering
if it is asking too much to form yet another entity that has the
potential to ask them for even more financial support.

*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:**:-.,_,.-*
Cynthia Van Ness, MLS, bettybarcode AT yahoo DOT com
http://www.BuffaloResearch.com

"Everyone claims to want a city, but no one here wants city living.
City living by its definition is crowded.  It is tolerant of other
people.  It is dependent on a sophisticated population that makes a
hundred compromises daily so that they can benefit from the collective
energy that a city generates."     --Robert N. Davis, Jr. (1955-2007)
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