Helping Patrons Find Their Roots : A Genealogy Handbook for Librarians

Title:

Author:

Schultz, Janice Lindgren author

ISBN:

9780838916445

Publication:

Chicago : ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association, 2018.

Physical Description:

viii, 240 pages : illustrations, facsimiles ; 23 cm

Contents:

What is genealogy? -- Genealogy 101 -- Finding genealogy records -- Continuing the search -- Published sources -- Advanced genealogy -- Collection development and training.

Subject Term:

Reference services (Libraries) -- United States.

Genealogy.

Genealogy -- Library resources -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Genealogical libraries -- United States.

Genealogical libraries. (OCoLC)fst00939644

Genealogy. (OCoLC)fst00939652

Genealogy -- Library resources. (OCoLC)fst00939672

Reference services (Libraries) (OCoLC)fst01092439

Geographic Term:

United States -- Genealogy -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.

United States.

Genre:

Handbooks and manuals.

Local Subject:

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE COLLECTION

Available:

Library	Call Number	Material Type	Status
Searching... State Library of Oregon	025.52 Schul	4-Week Loan	Searching... Unknown

Public libraries have many valuable resources for diving into a patron's lineage and family history, yet librarians themselves are sometimes not fully acquainted with all the tools available. The good news is that you don't have to be a genealogist to help patrons find the research information they need to get in touch with their roots. In this book Schultz, an experienced genealogy librarian, guides librarians through the process, providing

an overview of heritage research, with an explanation of the differences between genealogy and family history; step-by-step instructions for finding genealogy records; a discussion of useful databases such as Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest as well as print sources of information; key websites to help patrons continue their search; and advice on collection development and training.

Not just for reference librarians, this book will help all library staff connect patrons searching for information about their forebears.

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Family history is about more than just lineage. People are no longer pursuing just the longest list of names; they also want to find out specifics about how people in their family line lived. Genealogy expert Schultz provides invaluable information on this discovery process. This handbook begins with concrete information on how to start a genealogy reference interview. Examples are included, and available outside resources (websites, books, databases) are mentioned for every step of the process. The author also points out the importance of oral history and family documents. Vital records, land records, and military records play an incredibly important role in tracing a family, and Schultz helps professionals through the steps of tracking these down. Accessing information about ancestors from outside of the U.S. has always been more of a challenge for librarians; however, this handbook provides the best starting points to solve some of those family mysteries. This text ends with information for collection development so that libraries can serve not only patrons interested in their history but genealogists as well.--Ranucci, Blaire Copyright 2018 Booklist

Library Journal Review

The title of this latest work from Schultz (Finding Your Roots: Easy-To-Do Genealogy and Family History) is a bit of a misnomer: with the exception of a final chapter on collection development and additional training, very little here addresses professional interactions with patrons or the reference process. Instead, Schultz provides a concise yet thorough guide aimed at library professionals with limited experience conducting genealogy and family history research. The handbook provides tips for identifying research parameters, organizing facts, and citing sources and suggests websites and additional books to consult for more information. Its strength is Schultz's delineation of the various types of genealogical resources, most of which are illustrated with examples. Sections outlining the type of data to be culled from court records, passenger lists, naturalization records, and census schedules are particularly valuable and more comprehensive than similar sections in larger similar volumes. VERDICT Although many genealogy guides aimed at the general public cover the same material, library professionals in need of a crash course on genealogical research will appreciate Schultz's thoroughness and brevity, as will anyone wishing to learn more about this specialized branch of research.-Sara Shreve, Newton, KS © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Library Journal Review