This document outlines a training program for genealogy librarianship staff using inexpensive in-house and independent study modules. It proposes 9 modules that cover the basics of genealogy research sources and methods, as well as patron services. Each module includes lessons, activities, homework and costs around 2-4 hours to complete. The training is meant to be flexible and continually updated to equip staff with the essential skills and knowledge needed to assist patrons.
Fast and affordable methods for training genealogy staff
1. Making the Financial Case for
Genealogical Librarianship
Fast and Affordable Methods for Training Genealogy Staff
Presented by Nicole Wedemeyer Miller,
University of Illinois GSLIS
nwmiller@illinois.edu
3. Assumptions
That some training is necessary & desirable
That your new staff knows nothing about family
history
That this training will cover research sources &
methods, and patron service
That the combination of in-house &
independent study is the cheapest way to go
That this does not cover everything, but will
enable them to answer many questions
16. Lesson:
Many sources used in genealogy reference are
sources already used in regular reference
service.
17. Activity: reference tour
--phone, crisscross and city directories
--BGMI and the biographical sources it indexes
--back issues of newspapers, either microfilmed or print plus
any indices
--general and specialized encyclopedias
--perpetual calendar
--history articles and books, especially WPA guides, American
Heritage Magazine
--travel books (lots of local history information hides out
here)
--maps
21. Lesson:
There is a big difference between searching for
previously compiled and published
information, and researching sources in order to
compile your own. Any information found
through searching needs to be evaluated, not
just taken at face value.
22. Where to search?
Look for published genealogies on World Cat,
Familysearch.org, GB, Internet Archive, and at
the Library of Congress.
Search for articles on a family/geographical area
in genealogical and local history periodicals
using PERSI, GPAI and Index to Genealogical
Periodicals.
23. More searching activities
The WorldConnect Project at
Rootsweb.ancestry.com and werelate.org.
Message boards at Rootsweb and
genealogy.com.
Examine Genealogies in the Library of Congress.
27. Overarching lesson:
Sources are located in a variety of often-
changing locations, and many of the needed
sources will be located outside of your
library/archive.
29. The U.S. Census
“The Census Day” by Dollarhide
http://www.historicalpreservationgroup.org/hgs_census_day.htm
“Census Mistakes” by Dollarhide
http://genealo.gy/?cat=1&paged=470
Ancestry’s 10 Census Tips--
c.mfcreative.com/email/us/guides/10_census_tips_v3.pdf
Have them track one ancestor through three U.S. censuses.
32. The States
Go to the wiki at familysearch.org and search
under a name of your state. Look for the state
archive/library that is listed. Explore its website.
Or, go to http://statearchives.us/index.htm.
35. Lesson:
Valuable sources are housed everywhere from
the major genealogy collections, to the most
modest public library.
36. “9 Genealogy Libraries to Visit Before You Die”
http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/9-
libraries/
U.S. Genweb—go to the page for your county and
see what research places are listed.
39. Lesson:
The LDS Church sponsors the largest genealogical
organization in the world, which has amassed a
huge amount of information in Salt Lake City.
Much of it is on tens of thousands of rolls of
microfilm, which are stored in a granite
mountain, but can be accessed through ILL at a
network of Family History Centers and
participating libraries. This information is
beginning to be digitized, and can be found on
their website.
40. Read the article “FamilySearch” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FamilySearch
Search the FHL catalog for resources in your area. See if any of the
digitized record groups cover your area.
View: Record Search Tips on FamilySearch (4 minutes)
https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/record-search-tips-on-
familysearch/557
AND
Access to Records at Familysearch.org (3 minutes)
https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/access-to-records-on-
familysearch/551
42. Lesson:
Not all genealogical information is online, but
some is, and it may be good or bad. The most
commonly used types of websites include:
government, library/archives, collections of
digitized materials, genealogy/local history
groups, volunteer genealogy projects, and
subscription based.
51. Lesson:
Researchers need to record information
precisely using standard formats such as the
family group sheet and the pedigree chart,
available in print and computerized versions,
and they need to keep their stuff organized.
53. Activities
Family Group Sheet, Pedigree Chart, Source
Checklist, Research Logs—google these terms in
order to see various samples of all of these
forms.
54. Read this short explanation of the proper way to
fill out genealogical forms: About.com:
“Charting Your Course” Lesson 1c
http://genealogy.about.com/library/lessons/blint
ro1c.html.
55. GenSoftReviews 2013—examine this list, and
then go to the websites of two of the software
programs in order to see what features they
have. Most allow you free trials.
56. Homework
Fill out a FGS for the nuclear family they were
born into and source it as best you can.
Interactive Online Trees—go to Family Tree at
familysearch.org and play with it.
63. A case study:
Read “Challenge: Cordelia’s Birth Date and
Birthplace,” pp. 212-214 of Unpuzzling Your Past.
64. Resources:
Script Tutorial: Making Sense of Old
Handwriting
https://script.byu.edu/Pages/home.aspx
United States Record Selection Table
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_Sta
tes_Record_Selection_Table
69. Explain that background information is found
in many of the same places we search for
published genealogies—World Cat, GB, PERSI,
etc.
http://genealogybooklinks.com
74. Lesson:
Staff will be called on to fulfill a number of
different roles when providing genealogy
reference, including negotiator, therapist, and
research coach. Also, the genealogy reference
interview is typically longer and more
complicated than the regular reference
interview.
75. Read “The Genealogy Reference Interview,”
PNLA Quarterly, v. 68, Spring 2004, pp. 13-15.
http://www.pnla.org/recent-quarterly
Observe—either at your institution or another.
77. Recapitulation:
What are genealogy & family history?
What they already know
Searching vs. research
Where to research
How to record information properly
Analyzing & interpreting
Background research
How to provide service
82. Flexibility in the order of the modules
Flexibility in swapping out sources & activities
Flexibility in updating as needed
83. Continuing ed…
Dick Eastman’s blog
GENEALIB
“Digital Library of the Week” in American Libraries
www.ilovelibraries.or/articles/digitallibrary
Printed Sources
Webinars—Rootstech, FamilySearch.org, Legacy,
Wisconsin Historical Society, NGS
Adventures in Genealogy Education--
http://genealogyeducation.blogspot.com
84. Learn by teaching
Geneatech—software, apps, scanners, etc.
Old House Research
Adoption Research
Various Types of Ethnic Research
Genetics and genealogy
Social Media and genealogy
85. Why this method will work
Manageable chunks
Explaining why each chunk is important
Concise, up to date, and entertaining
information
A variety of formats
