Everything is Relative: Genealogy and Library Reference ...€¦ · Running head: EVERYTHING IS...

Running head: EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE: GENEALOGICAL REFERENCE SERVICES

1

Everything is Relative: Genealogy and Library Reference Services

Michelle E. Colquitt

Completed as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

Master of Library and Information Science Capstone

Valdosta State University

November 23, 2011

GENEALOGICAL REFERENCE SERVICES 2

Abstract

Genealogy is a very captivating discipline with millions of devotees. To provide essential

genealogical reference services, it is crucial that librarians be well versed in strategies for dealing

with these patrons. Librarians must appreciate the difference between genealogy research and

family history research in order to provide research assistance. In order to provide these

genealogical reference services, librarians must be trained in reference work through coursework

at library school. There is a brief discussion of the history of genealogical inquiry in the United

States. Then there is a discussion of the ALA‟s Reference and User Services Associations

various guidelines relating to what librarians should know after library school to assist patrons

and essential collection descriptions for libraries. Various issues, or complications associated

with genealogical research relationship are discussed. This paper ends with a discussion of ways

librarians and libraries can be better prepared for genealogical researchers.

Keywords: Genealogy, Reference Services, pedigree chart, Ahnentafel chart, American Library

Association, Reference and User Services Association, relationships, public library, academic

library, archive, genealogical reference interview, ancestry.com


Everything is Relative: A Survey of Genealogical Reference Services

Libraries prove to be of great benefit to their local communities because they provide

many critical services to the community for free. One essential function that a library, be it

public academic, or archive provides for local history researchers is serving as a repository for

local history records. Public libraries, and therefore, librarians should consider genealogical

patrons to be their “bread and butter” because libraries are in the genealogy business (Nelms,

1979 p. 686). These records are crucial for genealogists who want to learn more about their

family‟s presence, either positive or negative, in the local community. Local history records held

by libraries are very informative and also provide answers about family histories that have been

either suppressed or forgotten.

Genealogy is a very fascinating topic of study, with millions of users attempting to find

information out about their roots. In the most recent statistics provided by Ancestry.com, a

leading hub of genealogical resources, there are 1.7 million paying subscribers to their service

who have access to 7 billion historical records and potential access to 65 million photos and

stories about both their families and other families (2011 “Quick Facts”). Regardless of

subscription sites, genealogists still rely upon their local libraries to gain access to physical

resources, including documents from the genealogical or local history collections. Kundanis

(2008) stated “most of the historical records at our library are limited by what the library always

had, and we don‟t usually acquire many new historical records unless someone writes a book. So

Ancestry.com is a great investment for us and well worth its affordable prices” (p. 98).

Librarians can provide valuable assistance to patrons, through their hands on reference

instruction and use of electronic resources.


When community patrons are researching genealogy in local libraries, the librarian must

be well prepared to assist these patrons in accessing unique genealogical resources. Genealogical

research questions can be some of the most unique or frustrating a reference librarian can

encounter because these questions require understanding of specialized collections, a diverse

clientele who demands perfection, and the uniqueness of the genealogical reference interview.

The specialized nature of genealogical reference services begs the question “Do library schools

adequately prepare librarians to assist patrons with genealogical reference services?”

This paper will specifically define the difference between genealogy and family history,

and provide examples of specialized documents relating to each topic. Guidelines from the

American Library Association, specifically the Reference and User Services Association, which

govern what library students should know and specifically how libraries should respond to

genealogy will be discussed in depth. Then there will be a discussion of the challenges faced by

librarians who deal with genealogical researchers, such as specialized collections, a unique

clientele (including interactions with genealogists from the public and academic libraries, and

archive perspective), and specialized tactics for best assisting these patrons. Finally, there will be

a discussion of ways the librarian can familiarize themselves with genealogical resources, in

order to provide quality reference service to their patrons even if this topic is not one that is

particularly interesting or intriguing to them.

Genealogical Definitions, Documents, and History

Definitions

In order for librarians to best assist their genealogical reference patrons, they need to

become familiar with the specialized nature of genealogy research. Genealogy and family history

are two unique and different topics, and many individuals cannot appreciate the difference. The


difference between genealogy and family history are akin to a bare skeleton (genealogy) with

flesh added on layer upon layer (family history). Morgan (2009) classifies genealogy as “…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” (p. 3).

In contrast, family history is defined as “…the study of a family‟s history and traditions

over an extended period of time [which]… may involve documenting some or all of the facts”

(Morgan, 2009 p. 3). Once librarians appreciate the difference between these two concepts, they

can better assist their genealogical patrons with completion of genealogical research to find

specific documents and effectively locate resources for these genealogical quests.

Genealogical Specific Documents

In the beginning of their genealogical and family history research, the patron gathers

information to create two main documents, the pedigree and Ahnentafel charts. The main

document created in genealogical research is the pedigree chart. A pedigree chart, also known as

a five generation chart, lists your mother, father, and subsequent maternal and paternal family

lines (Croom, 2001 p. 10-11). The five generation chart can be completed relatively easily by an

amateur genealogist, providing that they have family members that will honestly provide them

with information about their maternal and paternal antecedents.

More specialized assistance is required for the genealogist who is attempting to delve

deeper into their family history. One of the main family history documents in the Ahnentafel

chart. This chart is a listing of all relatives starting with one‟s self, and then listing all other

relatives. For the librarian‟s reference, an Ahnentafel chart is defined as “a German word

meaning „ancestor table.‟ This system of numbering gives each ancestor a number and makes

organization and reference easier. Fathers are even numbers, mothers odd. To find a father‟s


number double the child‟s number…[then] add one to the father‟s number to get the mother‟s

number” (Hoffman-Rising, 2011 p. 220, Croom, 2001 p. 11-12). This chart commonly relates

anecdotes about a given person, such as where they lived and other vital statistics about them,

such as occupation, home place, any medical issues, or any family anecdotes.

Once the genealogist has begun working on these documents, they are then more likely to

utilize the resources of their local libraries. Even if the librarian has only had a core reference

services class while in Library School, they still should be able to effectively assist genealogical

reference patrons in a positive and helpful manner.

Brief History of Genealogical Research

It would be remiss to overlook the rich history of genealogical research in the United

States. Interest in genealogical research was piqued by Alex Haley‟s novel Roots, which was

published in 1976. Once it was published, there was great demand for the text and the novel

could not be found on library shelves for many years (Manley, 2010 p. 9). Meredith Colket, a

Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, as quoted in Redmann (1993) stated “Roots,

more than any other single work, stimulated the man in the street to inquire about the genetic,

cultural, and other forces that contributed to making him the person he is” (p. 122). While

interest in genealogy was great in the 1970s, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in

genealogical research because of television programs such as Faces of America and Who Do You

Think You Are? (Corley, 2010 p. 37). One major reason for the resurgence of genealogical

research is because it is personal and it connects you to your past. Given the current economic

and political climate, any connection to the “good old days” beckons genealogists.

Regardless of the reasons for genealogical research, there has been a resurgence of

genealogical research in America. In fact, Davidsson (2004) relates that “public interest in


genealogical information has grown by one-third since 1995” (p. 142). Genealogical research is a

hobby that proves to be captivating for everyone, regardless of ethnicity and gender. However,

genealogists who are researching minorities often encounter problems during their genealogical

research, especially if they are researching African American or Native American ancestors. The

pre-eminent scholar, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., through his PBS programs African American

Lives 1 and 2, explored genealogical research in a minority perspective. Gates called on multiple

historians, scientists, geneticists and genealogists in order to puzzle out the genealogies of many

prominent African Americans. These researchers are able to tap into the genealogical resources

that are found in the Slave Schedules of the pre-1870 censuses, and are also able to utilize the

censuses after 1870 because these documents were the first to list African Americans with

identifying demographic information. Gates (2009) relates that the 1870 census “…is like a

miracle, a godsend to African American history and genealogy… [it] is the bridge between

slavery and freedom, between the early nineteenth century and the twentieth” (p. 8). Even though

the 1870 census is a godsend for African American genealogists, there are many ancestors who

have been forgotten by history, and it is crucial for librarians to understand and respect the

various cultural implications of genealogy.

Genealogical Collections and Librarian Governance Policies

Reference and User Services Association—Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy

Collection

While there are many emotions involved in genealogical research, and it can be

somewhat unpredictable at times, multiple agencies have enacted policies to cover frequently

encountered issues in genealogical research. For genealogical collections to run smoothly, and

librarians to provide quality reference services, policies that govern collections and librarians


must be in place and followed on a regular basis. On a national basis, the American Library

Association has established Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogical Collection (2007).

Statewide policies covering the governance of library collections and genealogical research are

enacted on a state by state basis. The librarian‟s home institution is usually responsible for

enacting policies to govern genealogical reference services. The genealogical reference services

policy could be incorporated into the reference services policy, or there could be a standalone

policy governing genealogical research. These guidelines cover many areas, such as services,

collection development, personnel, access, preservation, and even fiscal consideration (American

Library Association, 2007). In order for librarians to effectively assist genealogical reference

patrons, they must be able to guide patrons through their library‟s collection. The ALA indicates

that “reference librarians should be trained to assist genealogy patrons with evaluation, search

techniques, protocol, and the use of digital data sources and services related to genealogy

research” (2007). Through their education and training, librarians should be able to ascertain the

nature of general reference questions and then assist them in dealing with genealogical reference

questions. The librarian can basically follow a roadmap of guidance through their library‟s

electronic resources, local history print collection, and make referrals to outside organizations.

Librarians can easily expound upon their training in regards to reference services to become

prepared to assist genealogical researchers.

Reference and User Services Association Guidelines for a Unit or Course of Instruction in

Genealogy Research at Schools of Library and Information Science

While the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) has established general

Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection, they have also established written

Guidelines concerning the establishment of genealogical training programs for library schools.


These Guidelines for a Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogy Research at Schools of

Library and Information Science provide governance for a library school‟s genealogical research

program in twelve specific areas. These areas are (1) unit or course objective, (2) definitions,

motivations, and the library‟s role, (3) basic genealogical research methodology, (4) patron

orientation/education and the reference interview, (5) major genealogy research resources, (6)

interlibrary loan, (7) patron referrals, (8) local genealogical and historical societies, (9)

volunteers, (10) ethical and legal issues, (11) consumer issues, and (12) genealogical collection

development and preservation (RUSA, ALA, 2007). RUSA‟s creation of guidelines which cover

such vast subtopics of genealogy indicates the importance of genealogy for the student‟s future

work in the library. Even if librarians do not study genealogical while they are in school, they

must be prepared to encounter these questions on a daily basis. The reference skills librarians

obtain while in library school sufficiently prepare the new librarian to effectively assist

genealogical reference patrons.

It is important that librarians be able to understand the hierarchy of the RUSA Guidelines

and be able to apply the most important guidelines to their interactions with patrons. Guideline

3.0, Basic genealogical research methodology, establishes the protocol for genealogy research,

and it is important for a librarian to be familiar with this protocol when helping genealogy

researchers. Guideline 3.0 establishes that the patron and librarian should start with the closest

generation to the genealogist and work backwards from there. Guideline 4.0, Patron

orientation/education and the reference interview, stresses the importance of a librarian‟s ability

to assess what the genealogy researcher needs, how to access those sources, and screen them for

usefulness to the researcher. From the title of this guideline, the importance of the genealogical

reference interview can be determined. Guideline 5.0, Major genealogy research resources,


includes sources such as military records, vital records, census records, and land records; it is

necessary for a librarian to be familiar with these resources in order to provide quality assistance

to genealogy researchers. This Guideline also emphasizes that the librarian should know the

goals of genealogical research through determining if the patron has begun to work on their

pedigree chart. This should also be when the librarian gleans what is known or unknown during

the genealogical research process (RUSA, 2007).

Concerns Present in Genealogical Research

Genealogical research is recognized as an area in which librarians want to provide quality

reference services to their patrons. However, there is a rather surprisingly negative body of

literature that establishes certain issues encountered by librarians and patrons in genealogical

reference interactions. Davidsson (2004) relates that “the public demand for genealogical

research assistance is present in every community in America. It is a challenge for librarians, as

information professionals, to provide themselves with the knowledge and ability to assist this

special client group in the library” (p. 142). There are many reasons why genealogical reference

services can be perceived as a difficult aspect of a librarian‟s job. Three main reasons why

genealogical references services is often perceived to be difficult are: genealogy requires special

collection materials that are unique, librarians face different clientele during genealogical

research, and there are special reference techniques librarians must rely upon to effectively assist

patrons with genealogical reference services. There are also specific implications, and

challenging aspects each library type, be it Public, Academic, or Archive faces when dealing

with genealogical researchers.

Regardless of the difficulties librarians face when dealing with genealogical researchers,

they still need to remain positive and helpful as best they can. One of the most intrinsic values a


librarian possesses is the desire to help others have a better life or better situation. Schneider

(2011), in a very eloquent statement about librarianship stated the following:

In the end, what matters, and what we are about, are the ancient truths of librarianship:

organizing, managing, making available, preserving, and celebrating the word in all of its

manifestations; helping our users build skill sets the fundamentals of which (if not the

ephemeral details) will last a lifetime; and celebrating and defending the right to read,

however that word is interpreted. This is what we do. This is who we are. This makes us

librarians. (April 11, 2011 para 24).

While genealogical research is not profoundly earthshaking, the discipline‟s enthusiasts are

devoted to genealogy because it provides connectivity to other people, places, and times.

Genealogy is highly personal and can mean the world to the individual researcher.

Collections

Within the library environment, the genealogy collection is distinct and is often held to

more rigorous collection development policies than the general circulating collection. Usually,

the collection development policy is written with certain goals in mind. For example, the Athens

Regional Library System‟s Heritage Room Collection Management Policy establishes the

rationale behind collecting materials of local and regional historical significance. This policy

establishes that “the Heritage Room seeks to serve serious students of Georgia History, local

history and genealogy of all ages, from the beginner to the experienced researcher” (ARLS,

1996). The scope and purpose of the collection enable the librarian and patron to have a shared,

coexisting and understanding of the purpose for the libraries genealogical or local history

collection.


Generally, the genealogy or local history section collection development will be driven

by the policy to collective materials that are relevant to the community, state, and then specific

geographic area. Genealogical or local history collections can be either generalized or very

specific in nature. Of course, this depends upon the home institution, and its place within the

community. Genealogical collections located in larger cities frequently have access to

newspapers, yearbooks, books by local authors, maps, and other ephemera associated with the

community in general. Nelms (1979) stated “building a collection to meet their [genealogists]

needs does not have to be an expensive proposition if librarians set appropriate limits on the

scope and type of collection they wish to develop. The current interest in genealogy and local

history can be used to promote a public drive to strengthen an existing collection or to create one

where none exists” (p. 687). There are often microfilm or microfiche readers in the genealogical

area, which require staff intervention to help patrons learn how to use these sometimes daunting

machines.

Clientele

Genealogical research is an act that depends very much on the relationship between the

genealogist and the librarian. A positive interaction between the librarian and genealogist makes

for both a satisfied genealogist and librarian. Surprisingly, there is a body of research that

indicates both patrons and librarians sometimes find the genealogical research process to be

frustrating. Billeter (2001) indicates that librarians do not like genealogists because “librarians

are human: they don‟t want to admit their ignorance of the specialized resources genealogists

use” (p. 2). She then suggests that there can be negative connotations within a genealogical

reference session because “…genealogists often are not library users prior to becoming

genealogists, so they don‟t know library jargon (ILL, Ref, Circ, fiche) or procedures (using the


catalog, using microfilm and microfiche readers, requesting an interlibrary loan” (p. 2).

Ignorance on both the librarian and patron‟s part of the goals or policies of genealogical research

can create a very frustrating genealogical reference experience.

Literature indicates that genealogical patrons are sometimes viewed as stereotypes. While

conducting interviews with several archivists, Edwards (1993) found that some archivists

“shared . . . stereotypes that genealogists were not serious researchers and therefore not

deserving of the same sort of respect and treatment we would give . . . a hot-shot academic.” (p.

40). Regardless of whether or not librarians possess stereotypical views of genealogists, the

librarian should be aware of the assets genealogists can provide to their organization.

Genealogical patrons should be viewed as an asset rather than a nuisance or hindrance to the

librarian. McKay (2002) emphasizes that the information scientist should maintain a positive

relationship with the genealogical patron because “genealogists support records access and

preservation through the strength of their political voice with legislators and other government

leaders, including managers of records repositories” (p. 31). Cultivating a positive relationship

with genealogists is beneficial to collection development because genealogists often are

collectors of or have access to influential donors or impressive collections. McKay (2002) further

states “they [genealogists] buttress this support with gifts of their money and volunteer labor.

Many archivists would profit from cultivating and respecting their company and collaborating

with them to preserve our cultural heritage” (p. 31). Building a relationship with genealogists

impacts the library in so many exciting ways; librarians should aspire to cultivate this

relationship.

Public Library Implications. Public librarians face several distinct and challenging

aspects when dealing with genealogical research questions. For purposes of this paper, the author


consulted with Ms. Jan Burroughs, one of two librarians based at the Elbert County (Georgia)

Public Library, and Ms. Laura Carter, Heritage Room Librarian at the Athens Regional Library

located in Athens, Georgia. Both librarians were asked about their frequency of interaction with

genealogical researchers and the frustrating aspects they encounter during the genealogical

research process.

Ms. Burroughs, one of two librarians based out of a small county library in Northeast

Georgia, stated that she encounters genealogical research questions on a daily basis. Generally,

the patrons Ms. Burroughs encounters are very calm and respectable, but she reports that they

can be tedious at times because of their individual skill levels. She states that these patrons are

often very new to genealogical research or using a computer, and they sometimes lack critical

thinking or research skills. Finally, she reports that the most frustrating patrons “don‟t

understand that I‟m not here to do all of the tedious research for them. I‟m there to steer them to

the most likely resources and to share information that I know” (personal communication,

November 7, 2011).

Ms. Carter, the Heritage Room Librarian for the Athens Regional Library System‟s

Athens branch, echoed Ms. Burroughs‟ sentiments. She stated that some of the most frustrating

patrons she encounters are those patrons who want the research to be handed to them

automatically without having to do any research. She stated further that the individual patron‟s

level of research and critical thinking is another aspect that can be frustrating because these

researchers are often very new to genealogy and sometimes lack critical thinking or research

skills. Finally, she reports that the most frustrating patrons “want staff members to do all of the

work. In our library, our job is to teach them to fish and make sure we have the right bait and

techniques to make it possible” (personal communication, November 7, 2011).


Academic Library Implications. Academic libraries can also function as a resource for

amateur genealogists. Academic libraries have many resources that can often be overlooked.

Russ (2010) presented that government document usage in academic libraries can be classified as

genealogical research. She presents that academic libraries often have access to national records,

and especially records about military service, which can be beneficial for genealogical

researchers” (p. 14-15). In an interview with Ms. Russ, she indicated that she will provide

information sessions to students and faculty about ways to utilize the Ottenheimer Library at the

University of Arkansas Little Rock for genealogical research. She frequently will cover

information about the US Serial Set, Department of Defense series, information about the

National Archives and Records Administration, American Memory (from the Library of

Congress), and also the U.S. Geological Survey maps. She stated that she wants to emphasize to

her patrons that there are non-traditional methods to access family history at an academic library

(personal communication, November 7, 2011) It should also be noted that academic libraries,

especially of the larger research and regional libraries are often federal depository libraries. This

means that the genealogist can frequently have access to federal records which might have

information about their various family members.

Archival Implications. Archives and archivists have more interactions with

genealogists than first expected. While this author was unable to interview an archivist, there

were several articles which related the struggles encountered when dealing with genealogists.

Genealogy, at the very core is a discipline about people. The genealogist is fascinated with

people. The archivist focuses mainly upon the physical record created by people, and therefore,

genealogists and archivists have competing interests. The genealogist has to be able to discern

what record types they need when visiting an archive, and also who created these specific


records. Duff and Johnson (2003) relate that this is one of the most difficult aspects of

genealogical research by stating “novices must gain the knowledge of an expert and learn to

„think like a genealogist.‟ They must be able to link a request for information about an even such

as death to a variety of records, obituaries, cemetery records, and so on” (p. 91).

Thinking like a genealogist can be frustrating for the archivist, because their professional

mind is focusing on preserving the individual record rather than learning information about who

created the record. It has been further asserted, by Duff and Johnson (2003) that

“Traditionally most archivists have expressed little interest in systematically

studying how or why their patrons use archival material. However, since the

1990s, archivists have begun to focus more attention on reference service and

users, and a number of researchers have begun to study the information-seeking

behavior or archival users. (p. 79).

Since this article was written in 2003, attitudes exhibited by archivists (and also library customer

service paradigms) could possibly have changed. This would be an intriguing area to study, in

order to determine if some of these negative attitudes and stereotypes are present. Yes, these

negative ideas of genealogist and archivist interactions were prevalent back years ago, but it

would be interesting to determine if the attitudes of the archivist have changed especially about

humanization of the archive rather than merely viewing the profession in terms of records.

Special Considerations for Genealogical Research

The Reference Interview

After librarians accept that genealogical researchers are an asset to our organizations, we

need to determine how best to assist with genealogical researchers. Francis (2004) establishes

that there is a unique genealogy reference interview, which deviates from the standard reference


interview in many ways, even from the very beginning of the interview when the librarian has to

ascertain if the material is being used for genealogy or is related to family history. (p. 13). Once

the nature of the transaction is determined, the trained reference librarian can follow Francis‟

steps in order to assist the patron effectively. Cassell and Hiremath (2009) establish that the

general reference interview contains the specialized steps of: “establishing rapport with the user,

negotiating the question, developing a strategy for successful research and communicating it to

the user, locating the information and evaluating it, ensuring that the question is fully

answered—the follow-up, and closing the interview” (p. 17). The genealogy reference interview

is distinct from the standard reference interview because of the aforementioned determination of

the purpose of family history research, and in determining the level of proficiency of the

researcher, not to mention the highly personal nature of genealogical research.

Francis (2004) establishes that the librarian should question the genealogist‟s level of

expertise and comfort with family research. She then asserts that the librarian should question

whether or not the patron is comfortable researching their genealogy on a computer, and if they

are not comfortable with computerized research, the librarian should offer to help the patron

begin to use the computers (p. 15). It is then suggested that the librarian should assist their

patrons with filling out the pedigree and other charts, and also should ask whether or not the

patron has been in touch with their family members to learn more about their family history

(Francis, 2004 p. 15). Librarians who assist patrons with genealogical reference questions face

more considerations than one who assists with a general reference question. Genealogical

reference questions require that the librarian conduct further investigation and digging into the

matters, rather than simply asking superficial questions. The genealogical reference interview is

time consuming, and can lead the librarian to forsake other duties in order to assist their patron.


Like the in depth nature of the genealogical reference interview, librarians must familiarize

themselves with electronic resources held by their libraries and also be knowledgeable of

comprehensive resources found on the internet.

Electronic Resources

It is imperative that librarians become familiar with the specific electronic resources that

are available to genealogists. Libraries usually subscribe to comprehensive electronic resources

which can help amateur genealogists in many dynamic ways. Generally speaking, almost all

public libraries in Georgia subscribe to Ancestry Library Edition, a product produced by

Ancestry.com. Laura Carter, the Heritage Room Librarian at the Athens Regional Library,

recommends that librarians and patrons become familiar with Ancestry Library Edition, even if

they subscribe to Ancestry.com because the Library Edition allows for free access to worldwide

records (personal communication, June 2, 2011). A subscription to Ancestry.com to access

worldwide records can be cost prohibitive, but local public libraries in Georgia, and throughout

the United States often provide access to this material, therefore, there is a monetary incentive

for genealogists to use their local public libraries.

There are many internet resources to assist in genealogical research. The downside of

relying upon an internet resource for genealogical assistance is that the credibility of the resource

has to be determined by the user. One of the most reliable websites to assist in the process of

genealogical research is Cyndi‟s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet (www.cyndislist.com).

Cyndi‟s List is wonderful for budding genealogists and librarians because it very

comprehensively catalogs thousands of links by categories that are common sense and helpful to

genealogical researchers. Internet resources are very transitory. Based on their education and

training, the librarian should be able to assist their patrons with determining which internet

http://www.cyndislist.com/






resources are quality and which resources provide information that might not be correct, or needs

further investigation or research.

Conclusion

With the aforementioned considerations in mind, it is imperative that the library create a

plan for dealing with genealogical researchers. Library staff members need to understand that

genealogical research is not interesting to everyone, but they will likely encounter genealogists

on a regular, if not daily or weekly basis. So, there should be creative solutions implemented to

provide quality genealogical reference services. Librarians, and the libraries that they work for,

can implement many creative solutions to deal with genealogists. Standardization of genealogical

reference services, especially in adherence to the genealogical reference interview, and the use of

referrals, would work especially well to assist new librarians in regards to helping genealogical

researchers. Obviously, there is not a plan that can cover every question or scenario encountered

by the librarian during genealogical research, but having this plan in place can make for a well

prepared librarian.

The library should designate a librarian to coordinate genealogical reference services.

Within the public libraries, the logical choice for this position would be the head of reference

services, or a specific local history librarian for larger libraries. Within the smaller libraries, this

person would probably be a general reference librarian or even an access services librarian. This

person can prove to be a mentor for the newer librarians who are encountering genealogical

questions in their first or new professional positions, because the librarian frequently encounters

genealogical reference questions.

If there is not an individual available to guide or mentor the new librarian, the librarian

will have to rely upon their education or training to determine the best ways to help genealogical


researchers. At this point of their career, whether they are newly employed as a librarian, or if

they have changed positions, it would be beneficial for the librarian to understand the concepts of

genealogy and family history and also to understand the motivations of the genealogical

researcher.

Understanding the motivations of the genealogical researcher is crucial to the start of the

genealogical research process. The librarian should, by this time, possess knowledge of the

standard forms genealogists use, be able to provide them to the genealogist, and then assist them

in completion of the form, if necessary. The librarian should develop a toolkit of required forms

and information about referring the genealogist to other organizations. In exploration of

genealogy, the librarian will encounter organizations to which they can refer patrons. The

librarian should keep a list of these referral organizations for their reference. Referral

organizations can be on a local, statewide, or national level. Locally, the librarian can refer their

patrons to specific Courts, the local Genealogical Society, or a local branch of the Mormon

Church‟s Family History Center. Statewide, there are genealogical societies, archives,

universities and other organizations where the genealogist can locate materials about their

family‟s role in various aspects of the State. On a national level, the genealogist can be referred

to Federal Departments including the Veteran‟s Administration, the National Archives and

Records Administration to find out information about their families on a nationwide scope. It

would behoove the librarian to familiarize themselves with these organizations because their

library will often just hold a fraction of these materials.

Familiarity with genealogical research resources comes in time. The librarian will not

begin their job and automatically know the resources available, especially if they move into a

new geographic area. The librarian should utilize the resources available through various social


media sites. There is a large presence of genealogists on both Twitter and Facebook, and in

various professional and private blogs. These very knowledgeable researchers frequently post

helpful hints via tweets, on their Facebook Walls, and in blog posts. These articles are

informative and frequently relate information about new strategies on how to research to

research, or provide access to sources that the librarian might not have considered before.

Genealogists of all skill levels can learn and benefit from these social media savvy genealogists

because they so often display new ways of thinking about genealogical research.

As mentioned previously, Cyndi‟s List is an excellent resource for genealogists across the

spectrum of experience. This site catalogs links based on geographic locations, so if the librarian

encounters a patron who wants to research their ancestors from a state thousands of miles away

or in a totally different geographical region, they can find information on Cyndi‟s List. Cyndi‟s

List also provides information about various ethnic groups and their individual regional ties. This

source would be great to refer patrons who needed information about a given ethnic group or

region which would be outside the spectrum of their local library or archive.

The internet is a great resource for genealogy that can be conducted remotely. Librarians

must be able to determine the veracity of information presented upon the internet, and should be

able to find documents or other information supporting these claims. However, the librarian must

understand that not all genealogy can be conducted remotely, and sometimes, it pays to network

with genealogists. When the librarian becomes involved with genealogy, they could possibly

develop an affinity for the research, and therefore, desire to network with genealogists. The

librarian should network and attend a few of these meetings in order to understand which topics

are relevant and also to understand trends in genealogical research. It is imperative for the


librarian to cultivate a strong working relationship with the local genealogy organizations in

order to boost their skills and find out more about the resources available locally.

New research about genealogist and librarian interaction would be particularly helpful to

gauge satisfaction. This research should be obtained through a short questionnaire, three to five

questions long. The information gathered from this questionnaire should include the

genealogist‟s age and level of research, information about the ease or difficulty of the research

process, and suggestions for improvement on the part of the library or the librarian. It would be

intriguing to see how closely present perceptions replicate the former perceptions of both

genealogists and information professionals. Through education and training, and adherence to

national and local policies, the librarian is well prepared to assist genealogical researchers.

Librarianship, a helping profession, should embrace genealogical researchers with open arms and

form lasting relationships based upon mutual respect and esteem.


References

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.

Billeter, A. (2001). Why don‟t librarians like genealogists? OLA Quarterly, 7(4) p. 2-6.

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.

Corley, M. (2010). Today‟s genealogist: providing value-added history. Bulletin of the American

Society for Information Science and Technology, 37(1). p. 37-38.

Croom, E.A. (2001). Unpuzzling your past: 4th

Edition, Expanded, Update, and Revised.

Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company.

Davidsson, R.I. (2004). Providing genealogy research services in public libraries: guidelines and

ethics. Public Libraries, 43(3). p. 142-144.

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.

Edwards, R.H. (1993). Archivists‟ outlook on service to genealogists in selected Canadian

provincial archives. (Unpublished MAS Thesis). Vancouver: The University of British

Columbia.

Francis, L.S. (2004). The genealogy reference interview. PNLA Quarterly, 68(3). p. 13-15.

Gates, H.L. (2009). In search of our roots: How 19 african americans reclaimed their past. New

York: Crown Publishers.


Kundanis, B. (2008, October 15). Why I love ancestry.com. Library Journal, 133, 17 p. 98.

Manley, W. (2010). The manley arts: Roots. Booklist, 02-01-10. p. 9.

McKay, A.C. (2002). Genealogists and records: preservation, advocacy, and politics. Archival

Issues, 27(1). p. 23-33.

Morgan, G.G. (2009). How to do everything: Genealogy. 2nd

edition. 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.

Redmann, G.R. (1993). Archivists and genealogists: The trend toward peaceful coexistence.

Archival Issues, 18, 2. p. 121-132.

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/guidelinesunit.cfm.

Reference and User Services Association. (2007). Guidelines for developing a core genealogy

collection. Chicago: American Library Association. Retrieved November, 23, 2011,

from:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidelinesdeveloping.cfm.

Rising, M.H. (2011). The family tree problem solver: tried-and-true tactics for tracing elusive

ancestors. Cincinnati, OH: Family Tree Books.

Russ, K. (2010). What‟s up docs? family history and government publications. Arkansas

Libraries, 67(3). p. 14-15.

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidelinesunit.cfm

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidelinesdeveloping.cfm


Schneider, K.G. (2011, April 11). The Free Range Librarian: Thoroughly modern Karen: A

response to Jeff Trzeciak. Retrieved November 23, 2011, from:

http://freerangelibrarian.com/2011/04/10/thoroughly-modern-karen/

Everything is Relative: Genealogy and Library Reference ...€¦ · Running head: EVERYTHING IS...

Documents

Transcript of Everything is Relative: Genealogy and Library Reference ...€¦ · Running head: EVERYTHING IS...