Everything is Relative: Genealogy and Library Reference

1. Everything is Relative:Genealogy and Library Reference By: Michelle E. Colquitt November 29, 2011

2. Inspiration “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun, Act 1. Sc. 3

3. Statistics • According 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

4. Definitions • Genealogyis 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)

5. Pedigree Chart

6. Ahnentafel Chart Michelle E. Cheek Ahnentafel 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

7. Motivations • Hobby/Social Reasons • Connectivity to the Past • Joining Heritage Societies

8. Why Genealogy Matters to Librarians • 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).

9. Policies About Genealogy • National, Statewide, and Locally • Locally—Athens Regional Library System’s Heritage Room Policy • Statewide—case by case basis • What 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.

10. Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection • “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: • Services • Collection Development • Personnel • Access • Preservation • Fiscal Considerations.

11. Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogical Research at Library School • 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.

12. The Genealogical Reference Interview • 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

13. Issues in Genealogical Research • Special Collections or Special Materials • Electronic Resources • Ancestry Library Edition • Cyndi’s List • Demanding Clientele • Public Library • Janet Burroughs • Laura Carter • Academic Library • Karen Russ • Archives • Duff and Johnson (2003)

14. Effective Interactions with Genealogists? • 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 Toolkit • Networking • Local History/Genealogical Societies • Outreach/Programming • Genealogy for Kids/Parents • Genealogy for Young Adults • Library Blog, Newsletter, Facebook or Twitter page

15. Areas for New Research • 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.

16. Conclusions • 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.

17. 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#pa ge=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.

18. References • McKay, A. (2002). Genealogists and Records: Preservation, Advocacy, and Politics. Archival Issues. • Morgan, G. (2009). How to Do Everything Genealogy, 2nded. New York: McGraw Hill. • Nelms, W. (1979, March 1). Using local history andgenealogy 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.