Helping Genealogists Climb Family Trees June 2008

Helping Genealogists Climb Family Trees:How to get them to your library and keep them there!

Presentation by:

Elise C. Cole, BAH, MLIS

Local History Librarian

Oakville Public Library

[email protected]

http://canadianlibgenie.blogspot.com


• This half-day workshop will cover:

– Put it in writing - The Genealogy and/or Local HistoryService Commitment

– Genealogy Basics: Research guidance and the basic rules for both the novice and experienced researcher

– The Resources: There are plenty of free websites and online tools. Current awareness tips and tricks

– Community/Programming Partnerships: They are out there!


• Why are we doing all of this?

– Ipsos-Reid study commissioned by Ancestry.ca(2006)

• 8 out of 10 Canadians want to know about their

family history

– How do we know that genealogy is so popular?

• Popularity of television shows, like: Ancestors In

the Attic, Who Do You Think You Are?

Helping Genealogists Climb Family Trees:How to get them to your library and keep them

there!

– Proliferation of Genealogy Magazines

• Discovering Family History, Internet Genealogy,

Your Family Tree, Family Chronicle, Le Chaînon,

Families, Family Tree Magazine, Heritage Quest,

The Genealogist, Mennonite Family History

Magazine, Journal of Online Genealogy, Medal

Tracker, Ancestry Magazine, Everton’s

Genealogical Helper, Ancestors, Practical Family

History, Reunions Magazine, OGS Newsleaf,

And Many, Many More!!!


• What are we at X Public Library going to offer?– Ontario Public Library Guidelines, 4th Edition: see Checklist,

Section 3.3.8 and 4.9• 3.3.8 Links to World Wide Web-based information sources - The

library provides access to selected, evaluated and organized links to reliable and current information sources available on the Web (e.g. to other community organizations, online directories, employment resources, genealogy resources, government information, Internetguides, search engines, health resources, etc.)

• 4.9 Local history Every community has a responsibility to collect and preserve materials which have a special relevance to its unique history. The public library may have an important role to play in making this information available to the community.


– Oakville Public Library Oakville Collection Profile:

– Other Libraries: What do they have online? Not just links, but look for online pathfinders (try a ~ tilde search in Google)

– Librarians Serving Genealogists Mailing List: GENEALIB: http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/list.html

– What other organizations are in the area?• Local branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society

http://www.ogs.on.ca/branches/branchlocator.php

• Local Historical Society or Archive (Municipality)

– Geographically-based genealogy mailing list:• http://www.cyndislist.com/mailing.htm#John


– ALA Reference and User Services Association –Genealogy and Local History

• http://tinyurl.com/5wtp3z

– See the Guidelines for Genealogy Collections• http://tinyurl.com/6gtheu


– International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA): Genealogy and Local History Section (http://www.ifla.org/VII/s37/index.htm)

• This Section of IFLA stands for the advancement of genealogy andlocal history librarianship.

• It provides an international forum for the free exchange of information about resources and services.

• It works with national and regional associations and societies to encourage and support the activities of genealogy and local history librarians.

• It promotes the education and professional development of subject librarians.

• It encourages the formulation and implementation of guidelines for genealogy and local history patron services in libraries.

• It supports the efforts of libraries, archives, and museums to collect, preserve, and improve access to oral and documentary sources through traditional media and via new technologies.

http://www.ifla.org/VII/s37/GENLOC-leaflet-en.pdf


• An Activity!!!


• Basic rules for genealogy/family history research:

– Start with yourself and work backwards

– Many brick walls can be broken through by going back over your research over time as more information becomes available

– All researchers need to keep notes of the materials they’ve used, in what format it was, where (place) and when (date) accessed

• About Genealogical Standards of Evidence: A Guide for Genealogists by Brenda Merriman

• Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace by Elizabeth Shown Mills


• Free Charts and Charting Software:

• Family Chart and Pedigree Chart at Canadian Genealogy

Centre (CGC)

– http://genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/ig/genealogy

_charts/family_tree.htm

• Personal Ancestral File (LDS)

– http://www.familysearch.org/

• Legacy (Standard Edition)

– http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/


• Resources: Free vs Fee

• Local: What’s already out there that’s available to your

researchers?

– Try AVITUS at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-501-

e.html

• Provincial: Ontario Research

– Archives of Ontario: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca

– Archives Association of Ontario: http://aao.fis.utoronto.ca/,

particularly their Genealogy and the Family virtual exhibit


• Canadian:

– Canadian Genealogy Centre (LAC):

http://www.genealogy.gc.ca

• Others:

– GENUKI: http://www.genuki.com

– Cyndi’s List: http://www.cyndislist.com/

Helping Genealogists Climb Family Trees:How to get them to your library and keep them

there!

• Staying On Top of Resources

– E-Newsletters like Global Gazette from Global Genealogy

• http://www.globalgenealogy.com

– Blogs & Other Sites

• Eastman’s Online Genealogical Newsletter:

http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/

• Librarians Helping Canadian Genealogists Climb Family

Trees: http://canadianlibgenie.blogspot.com/

– RSS feeds & Bloglines

– Google News Alerts: http://news.google.ca/

– Social Bookmarking


• Social Bookmarking: Take your

Favourites/Bookmarks on the Road

• Share with your colleagues across distances,

or even from branch to branch

• Sitejot: http://www.sitejot.com

– To see sites from today’s session, visit:

http://public.sitejot.com/genealogy.html


You’ve heard of

WEB 2.0

You’ve even heard of

LIBRARY 2.0

But what about…


GENEALOGY 2.0?????


• Genealogy 2.0

– Facebook: We’re Related & Family Builder


• Non-Facebook:

– Famillion: http://www.famillion.com

– Geni.com: http://www.geni.com/


• Community and Programming Partnerships

– Partner with Local Groups: Offer meeting space for free. How

about Collection Space?

– Ontario Curriculum and Local History and Genealogy & Scouts

Canada Badge = Class Visits

• Charts from Library and Archives Canada

– Offer a list of Local Researchers: OGS Branch and/or Professional

Genealogists (APG)

– Those Professional Genealogists are likely trying to build their

business: Speaker Events like Oakville’s Own Lady Diana

– Staff member doing unique genealogical research? Have them

give a workshop!


• Learning Opportunities:

– SOLS Workshops

– OLA Education Institute: Genealogy Webinars – invite a local

organization to participate and share the costs!

– CLA Annual Conference

– OGS Annual Seminar

– IFLA Conference and Satellite Sessions

– ALA/PLA

– Podcasts: http://genealogyguys.com/, Dick Eastman, etc

– Others to share?


Any Questions?

Thank you for listening today! Feel free to email me with

any questions, comments, suggestions, etc

Elise C. Cole, BAH, MLIS

Local History Librarian

Oakville Public Library

[email protected]

http://canadianlibgenie.blogspot.com

Helping Genealogists Climb Family Trees June 2008

Documents

family trees

practical family history

local history http

genealogy resources

history sources

family chronicle

local history librarianship

local history section