[Genealib] Genealogical periodical usage

[Judy Riffel]

Our society has published full-name indexes to all our back issues and most of our books on our website.  We get lots of inquiries from people finding their ancestors' names listed.  I suspect many of them get there by googling, but others are familiar with our site.  We're a statewide organization with a fairly large membership.

What major databases are you referring to?  Do they purchase periodical and book indexes or do they expect us to donate them?

Judy Riffel
Le Comite' des Archives de la Louisiane
www.lecomite.org

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jane Lucas 
  To: Librarians Serving Genealogists 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 12:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Genealib] Genealogical periodical usage


  This brings up one of my pet peeves.   If the publishers of the periodicals would have their publications full text indexed on the major databases then the back issues would be far more useful.   PERSI is fine, but it isn't a fulltext index of the type we're all used to today.   

  The publishers seem to be fixed on selling CDRoms of past issues as the only form of access presumably so they get the cash from the sales directly.  Why don't they change and participate in the major databases?     I'd be interested in any comments on why they do this.

  I really really wish they'd have their publications indexed fulltext and available more easily and then the back issues would be so much more valuable.

  Jane

  Jane Lucas
  West Vancouver Memorial Library
  West Vancouver, BC



  On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:05 AM, Sandy Day <daysa at oplin.org> wrote:

    Nancy
    Our patron interest in our bound periodicals is about nil. We only have a few subscriptions at present and we do display the current ones in a very public place in our local history room. I think I am the only user, most times. I would love to hear the comments on this topic so please post a summary.
    Sandy Day
    Genealogy Librarian
    Schiappa Library
    Steubenville, OH
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Nancy Maxwell 
      To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu 
      Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 12:38 PM
      Subject: [Genealib] Genealogical periodical usage


      Happy New Year, Listmembers:

      I'm interested in knowing how much your bound and electronic genealogical periodicals are being used. I've been a cheerleader for such use for years, and have even presented an extensive, intense program on their value and location, plus availability of indexes, many of which are web-based. For all this, our usage is very low. How much does collection size play a part on usage? Does the presence or lack of an index make a difference?

      I realize I can't make patrons use these items <g>, and there are no guarantees that the information they want is in them, but they could be missing out on something significant if they don't even take a look.

      I can post a summary if there's interest in one.

      Thanks,


      Nancy Kouyoumjian Maxwell, Genealogy Librarian
      Frances Pittman Malcolm Genealogy Room
      Grapevine Public Library
      1201 Municipal Way
      Grapevine, TX 76051
      Voice: 817-410-3429
      Fax: 817-410-3084
      E-mail: nmaxwell at grapevinetexas.gov

      "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."  ~Dorothy Parker


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