[Genealib] Genealogical periodical usage

[David Hardin]

We do bind our full volumes of genealogical periodicals.  We place them
in the stacks according to their geographic region or, if it is a
general publication, at the end of the General/US section.

We have our Genealogy book collection in three divisions:  General/US,
Foreign, and States.  The only place we use Dewey exclusively is for the
General section.  In Foreign and States, we have them arranged
alphabetically by Country/State, then by Dewey.  States are further
subdivided by General and then County (alphabetically).  

So, if a bound periodical is county specific, it will be found in the
proper county section within that State along with other books for that
county.  If it is statewide, it is placed at the end of the State's
General section and before the County section begins.

These bound periodicals are used more frequently, especially the county
specific ones.  The unbound periodicals are used much less, even though
they are also arranged in separate shelving using the same divisions.

I do not believe our electronic periodicals are used much at all, either
cd-rom or in database form online.  From what I have seen, PERSI is not
often used via HeritageQuest Online.

We have found that placing the periodicals (bound) within the regular
stacks has greatly improved usage.  One stop shopping, you might say.

David Allan Hardin, MSLIS

Genealogy Librarian Supervisor

Plano Public Library System

2501 Coit Road

Plano, Texas  75075

972.769.4443

davidhar at plano.gov

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Lynette
Jones
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 12:13 PM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: RE: [Genealib] Genealogical periodical usage

 

I would have to say that our periodicals are not used very much at all.
I look at several of the general ones (Ancestry, Family Tree) each month
for selection purposes and training, but I suspect I'm the only one
interested in them.  Patrons seem to ignore them.

The periodical that gets the most use is the journal produced by the
local historical society, Elm Fork Echoes.

We do not bind genealogical periodicals.

Thanks.

 

Lynette V. Jones

Information Services Supervisor

Carrollton Public Library @ Josey Ranch Lake

Carrollton, TX  75006

972-466-4814

fax 972-466-4265

________________________________

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Nancy
Maxwell
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 11:38 AM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
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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