Everything is Relative: Genealogy and Library Reference

By: Michelle E. ColquittNovember 29, 2011

Everything is Relative:Genealogy and Library

Reference

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun, Act 1. Sc. 3

Inspiration

StatisticsAccording to

Ancestry.com, there are:1.7 million paying

subscribers to their service

7 billion plus worldwide historical records

28 million family trees, 2.8 billion profiles

65 million photos and family stories

Genealogy is the scholarly study of a family’s line of descent from its ancestors, during which one develops an understanding of the family’s historical context and documents its history and traditions.”Pedigree Chart

Family History is the study of a family’s history and traditions over an extended period of time and may involve documenting some or all of the facts.”Ahnentafel Chart(Morgan, 2009 p. 3)

Definitions

Pedigree Chart

Michelle E. CheekAhnentafel Chart First Generation

1. Michelle Elaine Cheek b. 13 Nov 1981 in Toccoa, Stephens County, GA. m. 15 Dec 2006 to Jason Russell Colquitt b. 20 July 1979 in Athens, Clarke County, GA.

Second Generation 2. Michael Edward Cheek b. 13 May 1957 in Atlanta, Fulton County, GA m. 12

March 1976 to Betty Elaine Hulsey b. 11 Jan 1958 in Toccoa, Stephens County, GA div. 9 May 1990. m. Marilyn Wade b. 5 Nov. 1952 in Dec 1998. He is the father of one known child, Michelle Elaine Cheek b. 13 Nov 1981.

3. Betty Elaine Hulsey b. 11 Jan 1958 in Toccoa, Stephens County, GA m. Michael Edward Cheek on 12 March 1976 div. 9 May 1990. m. John Michael Evans b. 13 Nov. 1952 on 26 July 1991. She is the mother of one child, Michelle Elaine Cheek b. 13 Nov. 1981

Ahnentafel Chart

Hobby/Social ReasonsConnectivity to the Past Joining Heritage Societies

Motivations

Librarians in public and academic libraries regularly receive genealogy reference questions (Personal Communications with Janet Burroughs, Laura Carter, and Karen Russ).

Genealogy research is a relationship based interaction.

Genealogy is the “bread and butter” of public library work. (Nelms, 1979).

Genealogists can obtain information for the library; possibly working as fundraisers, or donors. (McKay, 2002).

Why Genealogy Matters to Librarians

National, Statewide, and LocallyLocally—Athens Regional Library System’s

Heritage Room PolicyStatewide—case by case basisWhat does the ALA say?

RUSA Guidelines for a Core Genealogy Collection

RUSA Guidelines for a Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogical Research at Schools of Library and Information Science.

Policies About Genealogy

“Public libraries have a responsibility to service the needs of patrons interested in genealogy research by providing basic genealogy reference materials in print, microform, and digital, and how-to-do-it books in the library.” (Guideline 1.1).

Guidelines Cover:ServicesCollection DevelopmentPersonnelAccess PreservationFiscal Considerations.

Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection

RUSA recognizes that genealogy is an important area of scholarship where few library schools offer very little instruction to future librarians.

The 12 Guidelines are very exhaustive covering everything from the ethical implications of genealogy, library volunteers, and most importantly, reference services to genealogical patrons.

Guideline 2.1 covers the genealogical reference interview, additionally speaks about interlibrary loan and referrals.

Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogical Research at Library School

Francis (2004) establishes that there are distinct differences between the genealogical reference interview and the standard reference interview.

Differences Include: GRI can last upwards of 20 minutes The librarian needs to ascertain if the information is used for

genealogy or family history. The librarian needs to determine how comfortable the patron is

with research and electronic resources.Cassell and Hiremath (2009) establish the standard reference

interview steps as: Establishing Rapport Negotiating the Question Developing a Research Strategy/Communicating this to the User Locate/Evaluate the Material Closure

The Genealogical Reference Interview

Special Collections or Special MaterialsElectronic Resources

Ancestry Library EditionCyndi’s List

Demanding ClientelePublic Library

Janet BurroughsLaura Carter

Academic Library Karen Russ

Archives Duff and Johnson (2003)

Issues in Genealogical Research

How can new librarians prepare for genealogists?Staff Training

Designated “Mentor” to Assist New Librarians in navigating the genealogical research process.

Creation of a Pathfinder/Important Electronic Resources Sheet for New Librarians

Staff Genealogical ToolkitNetworking

Local History/Genealogical SocietiesOutreach/Programming

Genealogy for Kids/ParentsGenealogy for Young AdultsLibrary Blog, Newsletter, Facebook or Twitter page

Effective Interactions with Genealogists?

What perceptions do librarians and genealogists currently have about their interactions?

Surveys of multiple genealogists and librarians to determine their level of satisfaction with the genealogical research process.To improve customer service at your library.To determine how satisfied librarians and

genealogists are overall.

Areas for New Research

Genealogy is a very important field of study (not just because the ALA tells us it is).

Genealogy is relationship based; we should strive to have a great relationship with all patrons, not just genealogists.

Comfort with genealogical research comes over time; however, we as librarians are prepared to deal with reference questions through our education.

Conclusions

Ancestry.com. (2011). About Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011, from: http://corporate.ancestry.com/about-ancestry/.

Athens Regional Library System. (1996). Athens-Clarke County Library Heritage Room Collections Management Policy. Retrieved November 22, 2011,

from: http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/arls/policies/regional/heritcm.pdf#page=3.

Burroughs, J. (2011). Personal Communication. 7 November 2011. Carter, L. (2011). Personal Communication. 2 June 2011, and 7 November 2011. Cassell, K.A. and Hiremath, U. (2009). Reference and information services in

the 21st century: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

Duff, W.M. & Johnson, C.A. (2003). Where is the list with all the names? Information-seeking behavior of genealogists. The American Archivist, 66 (Spring/Summer 2003). p. 79-95.

Faulkner, W. (1951). Requiem for a Nun. Francis, L.S. (2004). The genealogy reference interview. PNLA Quarterly,

68(3). p. 13-15.

References

McKay, A. (2002). Genealogists and Records: Preservation, Advocacy, and Politics. Archival Issues.

Morgan, G. (2009). How to Do Everything Genealogy, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill.

Nelms, W. (1979, March 1). Using local history and genealogy to build library support. Library Journal, 104, 6. p. 686-687.

Reference and User Services Association (2007). Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection. Retrieved 23 November 2011, from: http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidelinesdeveloping.

Reference and User Service Association (2007). RUSA guidelines for a unit or course of instruction in genealogical research at schools of library and information science. Chicago: American Library Association. Retrieved November 23, 2011, from: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guideline

sunit.cfm. Russ, K. (2011). Personal Communication.

References