[Genealib] Re: Special Collections Usage Policies

[Ruth M.F. Tucker]

I want to echo Libby's response.  A library for any kind should be  
concerned with ways to encourage people and children to use it, not  
restrict it's use.  We've had some problems with young people abusing  
the microfilm readers at one of our local libraries but that could be  
remedied by having them more visible to the people at the reference  
desk.  As it is, they are behind the tall file cabinets holding the  
microfilms, so users are screened from the reference desk.  I suppose  
this is an attempt to keep the light to a minimum for viewing, but  
seems to invite trouble.

We need to encourage our young people in the pursuit of History and  
genealogy. If we don't all our research is in vain, as there will be  
no one to keep it up in the future. Even giggling at their parents  
strange dress in the yearbook will keep them coming back and in the  
future they will be comfortable in those "old, musty, family books".

Ruth
NEIGS Librarian/Newsletter Editor
Iowa Mayflower HIstorian/Newlsletter Editor
Member: ISDAR and IGS



On Jun 6, 2008, at 11:00 AM, genealib-request at mailman.acomp.usf.edu  
wrote:

> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 10:17:12 -0400
> From: Libby Feil <l.feil at sjcpl.org>
> Subject: [Genealib] Re: Special Collections Usage Policies (Kelly
> 	Swartz)
> To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
> Message-ID: <a06200701c46ef2c4c0ee@[10.0.34.190]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>
> Hi, Kelly and all--
> 	We do not have a separate written policy for our Local &
> Family History Room, but our Library has a general policy that
> children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a person over the
> age of 14.  However, we haven't yet had a problem with unaccompanied
> kids--it's the bored ones whose folks drag them in and make them sit
> still for hours who end up causing a ruckus!
> 	We actually have many kids come through, and I would hate to
> see anyone with a genealogy and/or local history room make it
> off-limits to children.  How can genealogy as a field sustain itself
> if children are not encouraged to participate?  We have many kids
> come in who are interested in our local history and our genealogy
> resources, and I am often impressed by how much they know and how
> diligent they are.  One of our most impressive researchers is a young
> teenage girl who comes in with several huge, archival, exceedingly
> organized binders of genealogy work.
> 	One of the previous responses to your question mentioned
> restricting the use of the collection to actual genealogy.  We do ask
> the folks who use our computers to only use them for history or
> genealogy purposes (because otherwise, we'd have the computers taken
> up all the time by people working on e-mail, job applications, and
> gaming).  However, in general, our department does not limit usage to
> "official" genealogy or history use.  How would one decide what
> constitutes a "legitimate" use?  We have a huge yearbook collection
> here, for instance, and researchers often use it to find out more
> about their ancestors, find a picture, etc.  But, we also get a lot
> of teenagers who come in to look up their parents and giggle at their
> funny hairstyles!  That's not a strictly genealogical use, but I
> think it's a great way to get kids hooked on history.
> 	As a room in a public library (and a room with three separate
> entrances), we can't restrict what people bring in.  What we do
> instead is ask people to look at rare and fragile materials at one of
> the tables that is within view of our reference desk and our security
> cameras.  Also, we don't allow fragile, damaged, or oversized items
> to be photocopied.  (We do let people with digital cameras photograph
> items, which we know is somewhat damaging.  However, it happens
> infrequently.)
> 	Good luck working up your policy!  I hope you do decide to
> let younger patrons use your materials, though.  We need to get them
> hooked while they're still young!
> Best wishes,
> Libby

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