[Genealib] Genealogy Librarian - job descriptions

[Dana Lucisano]

I'm wondering if I could trouble you to write an informal job description for yourselves, reflecting your actual duties as genealogy librarians.  Like many of you, I wear many different hats.  I am actually part of the Adult Services Department at this urban public library.  In addition to managing our Genealogy and Local History collection, I also staff the Reference Desk part of the day, handle reader's advisory, help maintain the web site, and serve as ADA Coordinator.  What I would like you to do is to break down only that part of your job that deals with genealogy or local history and tell us what part of your time is devoted to the following kinds of tasks:  (1) responding to patron inquiries; (2) collection development; (3) preservation; (4) cataloging and archiving; (5) preparing finding aids; (6) continuing education (7) planning, evaluation; (8) public relations.  What would you like to do if you could change the amount of time spent in each area?  I'll start by telling you what I do:

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	responding to patron inquiries - About 40% of my time is spent working one-on-one with patrons doing genealogy or local history research.
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	collection development - purchasing/weeding - about 25%
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	preparing finding aids - 10%
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	planning/ evaluation - 10%
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	continuing education - 10%
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	publicity - includes content added to library web site - 5%

At the present time, I don't do any preservation activities, even though we have many books that are in need of attention.  I am trying to convince the management here that I need to devote some energy in that direction.  I would also like to be trained in archival management and devote time to doing original archiving.  How many of you do any original archiving or cataloging?

I will be grateful for your comments.

Sincerely,

Dana Lucisano

Genealogy and Local History Librarian
Silas Bronson Library
267 Grand St.
Waterbury, CT 06702
 
(203) 574-8225
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