The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2001 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. - NGS Library's Books To Be Relocated Good news for genealogists outside of the Washington, D.C. area: The U.S. National Genealogical Society is moving its library books to the St. Louis County (Missouri) Library. This is a rather drastic move but one that will dramatically increase the availability of the books. In the past, the National Genealogical Society's books were available by in-person visit or by mail to NGS members. The St. Louis County Library will do the same but also will make the books available by Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Interlibrary Loan charges are generally lower than the NGS' circulating library charges. Also, one doesn't need to be an NGS member in order to obtain books via Interlibrary Loan. The end result will be that many more genealogists will have access to these books than ever before. The change was the result of a near unanimous vote by the NGS Council (one member dissenting) that was announced at the Federation of Genealogical Society meeting in Iowa. A few items will not be transferred to the St. Louis County Library, including: * Bible Collection * American Medical Association's Deceased Doctors Card File * Member Ancestor Charts (now being indexed by volunteers) * Germans to America collection * Hall of Fame material * Rare books (old or brittle, limited editions, books with high used-book market value that did not circulate) * Manuscript and Reference Collections On November 5, 2001, most of the 17,000+ volumes of the library that formerly circulated to walk-in patrons and Library Loan users will be shipped to the St. Louis County Library and housed there permanently, to be available to the general public. The NGS book collection was donated, not sold, to St. Louis Public Library under provisions of a mutual agreement. The agreement with the St. Louis County Library provides that they will make the books acquired from NGS available to the general public through Interlibrary Loan. This means that the cost of ordering and delivering the books to patrons may be lower than NGS' past library loan charges to members, but patrons' use of the books will be subject to the receiving libraries' policies regarding patron use of Interlibrary Loan materials. The agreement also provides that NGS has 10 years in which to repatriate its collection from St. Louis County Library if NGS pays for handling and shipment. There have been some negative remarks about the move on the various message boards in the past few days, which is surprising to me. Certainly the moving of the books is a drawback to those living within easy driving distance to Arlington, Virginia. Those people will no longer be able to drive to the NGS Library to use the books. On the other hand, those in the St. Louis area will now be within driving distance of these resources. What's more, with the new lending terms, genealogists in all other parts of the country will experience significantly improved ease of access to these books. Unlike the NGS, the St. Louis County Library has its card catalog online. You can search for available books at: http://www.slcl.lib.mo.us. You can search by title, author, subject, keyword or call number. The NGS probably would not have created that capability for several more years. Unlike the NGS, the St. Louis County Library allows everyone to order Interlibrary Loan of books online. Simply go to http://www.slcl.lib.mo.us/ill/ill_book.htm to fill out your request. (Remember that the NGS books have not been moved yet. Don't try to order those volumes until early next year.) The St. Louis County Library also provides online information about books you have ordered and which ones you presently have checked out. The St. Louis County Library also has more services for those who are physically handicapped or housebound than the NGS did. For local users, the St. Louis County Library will be able to notify you via regular mail or by e-mail when materials are available for pick up. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.276 / Virus Database: 145 - Release Date: 9/3/01