[Genealib] Advice for Library School Students

[Rhonda Konig]

Hi Amber,

I would recommend these books to help librarians learn about 
genealogy research:

1. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy - Loretto Dennis Szucs
2. The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy - Val Greenwood
3. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County & Town Sources - Alice 
Eichholz - I would read the sections on the states your patrons would 
ask about frequently to help you learn the basics about genealogy 
research in those states.

I would also recommend becoming familiar with the U.S. Census and 
state census records (if they exist) and vital records research 
(especially your state's access policies).  I would become familiar 
with other local records including wills/estate records, land 
records, newspapers/newspaper transcriptions, city directories, local 
histories, church records, cemetery transcriptions/records, and 
maps/atlases. Military records are also very helpful, especially 
Revolutionary War pension files, Civil War service records and 
pension files, WWI draft registration cards, and military discharge papers.

I think the following databases and websites are also important:
    * Ancestry Library Edition database (library subscription)
    * HeritageQuest database (library subscription)
    * Digital Sanborn Maps (library subscription)
    * http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp - Including 
becoming familiar with the Family History Library, its online records 
search, its holdings, its Family History Centers locally and its 
renting policies.
    * Social Security Death Index - http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
    * NARA - http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/
    * http://www.vitalrec.com/
    * http://usgenweb.org/ - including local projects
    * http://www.cyndislist.com/
    * www.liveroots.com
I would also recommend becoming familiar with your local historical 
and genealogical societies, their websites, and digital collections; 
and your state library/state archives, their websites, and digital collections.

Other advice I would give is to keep in mind that there's no quick 
and exact way to do genealogy research. Your search strategy will 
depend on the what records exist for the time periods you're 
researching in the localities you're researching, as well as the 
ethnicity of your ancestors.   I would also encourage researchers to 
interview family members about their family history.

Rhonda Konig
Special Collections Librarian
Grosvenor Room
Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
1 Lafayette Square
Buffalo, NY 14203



At 08:45 PM 10/17/2008, you wrote:
>Hello Everyone,
>I am currently in my second year of library school at the University 
>of Washington's Information School and in my first quarter of a 
>genealogy year-long class. I am putting together a small article 
>about Genealogy and Librarianship for the Information School's 
>student newspaper.  Our library school does not have any classes or 
>workshops that focus on the skills and helpful resources when 
>assisting patrons with genealogical based questions/research. If you 
>have the time, could you answer the following questions for me.
>
>1. What books or article would you recommend library school students 
>read to prepare for these types of reference interactions?
>2. What genealogy resources would you recommend library school 
>students become acquainted with to prepare for these interactions?
>3. What other advice would you give library school students about 
>genealogy and Libraries?
>
>Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
>
>Amber Brock
>
>_______________________________________________
>genealib mailing list
>genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
>http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib
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