I had a lot of responses about the local Genealogy section in our library. Found out things could be worse, but they could be better. THE GOOD: We have a wonderful one in Independence, MO. it has everythihng and some of the best people working there you have ever seen. Every place should be so great. ************************** Check with Kevin Cherry at the Rowan Public Library in Salisbury. Everything is arranged geographically, everything about Rowan County is in one place, as is any other county or state. (I've been to Salisbury, How about that McCubbin collection? WOW!!!!)vf The genealogy dept. is separate from main library and it is a mini-collection. Set up first by subject matter and then by decimal system. We have our microfilm/fiche readers and printers there, also computers. We are shortly going on-line...Some of our material is cataloged reference only, but others not ******************************** I work at a public library which has a small genealogy collection and handles Inter library loans. To answer your questions: Books can be cataloged on a computer database and simply marked as Reference or non-circulating. The classification of genealogy items is possible and not that difficult. Most public libraries use the Dewey Decimal System and with more computer databases (example OCLC) being utilized for cataloging, not that difficult. With my encouragement, my library is increasing their local genealogy holdings although choose not to carry specific genealogical items. ********************************** An excellent example of how a genealogy section of a public library should be organized is the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Perhaps you can contact them for advice. ********************************** The Cape Girardeau County Missouri Gen. Society takes care of the gen. collection which is located at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson, Missouri. They have the best system!!! The library puts an "official" number on each book. Then the Gen Soc. put another number which makes good sense. They keep up separate books with their numbering system on the tables in the gen. section. Write to the society at P. O. Box 389, Jackson, Missouri 63755. They are very helpful. ******************************** I live in Houston with the Clayton Genealogical Library, the 2nd largest genealogical library in the world. When I started going there most of the books were filed by the normal library book no. order. They were in the process of all the books by state by county. If a book had a general state theme, it would go into the state general. They also have a complete building that houses surname books and information. ******************************* Go to the Iredell Room in the public library in Statesville NC! copy it! Then eliminate the clock that chimes the 1/4 hr and put the copy maching IN the genealogy room, ( vs just outside the door) and it will be PERFECT! There they have family surname folders of work af all the people researching that name. They have a card catalog by surname, listing the names and addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of perple researching those names, AND on the bottom of each card for one surname, list theOTHER surnames that person is working on. They have a huge collection of books of Rowan Co ( present) and the counties made from it. They have NC information by county name, alphabetical by county. They have other states, each separate, alphabetical by state. They have an extensive family Histories section, on the shelf by surname , alphabetically. They have comforatble chairs, and sofas and tables for reading and working at. Besides all this , it is pleasantly decorated, They have an informed volunteer staff.They willingly give change for the copier ( which runs on change, vs the pay-at -the -end method which may be a lttle easier on the patron and some loss to the library) ***************************** I went to a small library in Nashville AR and it was a very small town....and it had a great gene. section. So it is according to the people and their interest. ------------------------------------------------------- THE BAD: The public library in Cape Girardeau uses the "official" Dewey Decimal system; has lots of books also; cannot find anything! One of the problems is that the numbering system changes over time and no one takes the time to see that the same number is consistant over time. I am a former school librarian, so I know! *************** The second best for research material , but the WORST physical facility is Benton Co TN... but they are building a new one. it is a SMALL room with nowhere to sit and no table space at all! ************** Greensboro NC's is opulent but there is NOTHING there in genealogical material. I went through both the LDS and the Guilford county libraries in less than half a day ( on a trip where I allotted 1/2 a WEEK for there!) ************** Amelia Co VA is the worst disappointment. They have possibly 50 linear feet of books, TOTAL; are open parts of 3 days a week, and the copier did not work when I was there. ************* I was a member of our genealogy soc at the library and we tried and tried and gave up. Then when genealogy became a big thing they did it their self and took all the credit. They seldom change unless there is something in it for them. Look for better ones. ************* Please add me on this plea. I am in California, disabled and do all of my research from home. Arkansas is the most difficult state I have run into for research. Extremely unaccomodating. They most definitely need to look at other states, NE., Adams CO., Ohio, IN., Iowa, etc. If all of the other states are able to go online (that's what is happening now), and also Canada and European countries; Arkansas can surely see the printing on the wall. *************** I can tell you that maybe it could be worse. I have researched in lots of libraries, but one of the strangest systems is one in encountered in London. The books were listed in the card catalog as being a certain color and size and being on a certain shelf. No matter what the title or the author were, you had to know the color of the binding and the size of the book! ------------------------- THE SUGGESTIONS: Find the oldest, longest serving Congressman (Senator, if possible) with a notable and lengthy genealogy, recruit the combined support of all local genealogical societies in an Ad Hoc committee form, have it chaired by the one individual (in any of the member societies) who is in the best position to dictate corporate or PAC contributions to candidates and have them approach the target electee with your need for a special Genealogical Library, leaving open the question of whom it should be named for. Seem sensible? *************** I would assume that like most small libraries, they are cataloging materials by the Dewey Decimal system. Perhaps not, if things are as chaotic as you say. You should be able to go to the catalog, find the call number for the item you want and then find it by that call number on the shelf. I would love to see this library. By the way, most libraries do not lend genealogical materials. If they are not putting them in the computer, doesn't that make it hard for their patrons to find them? ******* Assuming the geneaology section will be separated from the rest of the stacks, I would suggest that you still use the Dewey Decimal System with an alphabetical character in front of the number to delineate those books that are for genealogical research(i.e. G975.5 for books on Virginia and subnumbers for individual counties). This allows you to have a help book by state and county within the state. ************** Most library do not loan gen books. sometimes a gen society own these book not the library. This may be the reason they will not put them in the comp ***************** While I am a librarian I am not a cataloger and never have been in my career. So I would hesitate to discuss in depth the Dewey system. But....here are some things that could be done.... A simple card system needs to be developed. A card for each book should be filed under Author and under title. All resources on a single state should be grouped together and at the very least then shelved in alphabetical order by title or alphabetical order by author. And then another card should be put in the card file for that book listing it by state. Resources that cover more than one state should be grouped together in the same manner. A card put in the file under author, title, and each state covered by that resource. Genealogical magazines and journals should be filed together by title and then by date of publication. And..a card put in the file under title of magazine and under the state of publication. How to resources should also be shelved together and a card put in the file under author, title, and some subject like Genealogy or Genealogy - How To or Genealogy - Instruction, etc. Resources that address a single family or surname should be grouped together with a card in the card file under title, author, and under the major surnames covered in that material. ***************** But maybe you could advertise in your area for a librarian to help you put in order. Check out another local library that has a good section and get their advice. I only have a very small bit of experience in libraries and I know that once you get them catalogued and on a shelf...sometimes that means the work is just beginning. They have to be kept in good repair, rebound, and BE sure that they can not be check out.....Reference only. Also maybe someone from your newspaper can get out a story and have people in the area that have family files they could copy or books they could donate...or even leave to the library in their wills. Also maybe a local LDS church could help with microfish - even older copies. Also some of the Gene. Newsletter old copies might have info...or maybe one of their researchers could give advice Virginia [email protected] Anyone who steals genealogical material, should have their roots cut off! GRANNY'S GENEALOGY http://www.geocities.com/nashville/opry/1166/ HOMEPAGE http://www.public.usit.net/gflesher *************************************** * * JOHN WAYNE * * * Genealogy, Surnames, Pictures * * Missing Children, Collectables, * * and other links. * * WEB PAGE DESIGN * *************************************** INTERESTED IN SONGWRITING? http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/7077/ ***************************************