[Genealib] Genealogy Room Set-up * & online ctalogs *

[John Wylie]

Trevia and all,

Gee, I sure didn't mean to paint all genealogical collections with the same
brush. This thread got started discussing how a new genealogy Room might be
organized. I wasn't even thinking about huge ones like the Clayton or an
archives collection on campus. I love the Clayton and, closer to me, Dallas.
However, your observations about the making sausage (if you enjoy sausage,
don't watch it being made) issues at the Clayton, somewhat make my point.
Since I am obviously not a Librarian (wasn't shoved in the right direction
when I was still in briefs) my observations were really intended to help the
people who manage small Rooms. 

Without naming names, I'll expand on what web presence for Rooms can do
better. First, give me, the traveler, a narrative oversight of the
collection. Don't assume that I know or can intuit what you have from just
your location. I recall one Room that had more material on one county in
another state than it had on its local county. Most likely , the results of
donations by a patron who had ancestors there. But it's the unique items
that I really want to know about. When describing your collection, make sure
that Google can pick up on the keywords that will help me find you. If you
have the business records of a past prominent landlord, tell me. I'm likely
looking for someone who rented or farmed for shares from the guy. If you
have a file on the cemetery plowed under to build a WalMart, I want to know
that. If I can't find that information using Google, I may not visit.  

May I amend my initial post by adding three thoughts. Of course, I call
ahead (thanks Joyce). With cell phones, I do that even if we decide to visit
the same day. That's the wonder of research, you don't know where it's going
to send you. Second, when entering the Room read the  "description" flyer
before asking for help. Sometimes I have to go hunting for a Librarian  who
can help me. Some Rooms aren't staffed, but I consider it essential to make
staff aware that the room is being used by someone from out of town. If
there's a Library or Room that isn't hurting for resources in this economy,
it stands alone. Third, sign in. I often leave my business card and,
depending on the client, a small cash gift. 

John Wylie

Member, APG

From: treviawbeverly [mailto:treviawbeverly at comcast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 8:50 AM
To: john at johnwylie.com; Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: Re: [Genealib] Genealogy Room Set-up * & online ctalogs *

 

John, where do you feel library websites and online catalogs are "marginal?"

I realize it takes time to really get acquainted with them, but usually
worth a few hours pre-trip.

One thing that is helpful - if you know far enough in advance - is to see if
the library system puts

out any kind of email news.  If so, ask to be added.

    On the Clayton Library site  http://www.houstonlibrary.org/clayton
you'll want to  click on "the following pages."

Click on "More Resources" and you'll see the "Links to our research
collections" .. and "To sign up for Clayton's electronic newsletter: Clayton
Town Crier." It's free.

    The thing that frustrates me is that often Central Library changes up
the main site, which Clayton is a part of, and "some sweet young thing" that
may be a wiz in technology knows little about the branches/collections/etc.
and they set out to rearrange without consulting those who work those
branches/collections/etc.  And the colors! Often not pleasing. The Houston
Public Library's main site at http://www.houstonlibrary.org/ (by the way
there is another Houston Public Library in another state so if you're doing
a Google search, be sure you have the one you want)

gives you an opportunity to offer a suggestion.  Believe me, I do use it!
Sometimes to say thank you but also to

say what I don't like or give a suggestion on maybe how to be more
user-friendly. 

 

Snip snip

 

   Trevia

 

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: john at johnwylie.com 

To: 'Librarians Serving Genealogists'
<mailto:genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu>  

Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 8:11 AM

Subject: RE: [Genealib] Genealogy Room Set-up

 

Like Trevia, I too am a professional genealogist. I use many libraries in my
traveling research. For what it's worth here's how I use your wonderful
collections: 

First: Before I travel, I visit you online to refine my task list for your
locality. Perhaps it's my limited 19 year experience doing this full time,
but most library websites and online catalogs are of marginal help.  

Second: When I arrive and before I start working my task list, I ask you for
a brief orientation, especially what you have that no one else has. You're
almost always thrilled to show it off. And I'm grateful. This step has
revealed answers I would otherwise have missed, sometimes to questions I
didn't know to ask. Most of your unique stuff is not in the catalog or
impossible to find on your website if I don't already know your collection
well, which I never will. 

Third: I work my task list.

Fourth: I browse the shelves. If the collection isn't well organized by
locality, I skip this step. As others have observed better than I could,
even with good cataloging, the Dewey system is not responsive to my needs. 

John Wylie

Member, APG  

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