By Damon Veach Genealogy columnist/The Times-Picayune LOOKING WEST: West Baton Rouge Parish may be the smallest parish in the state, but its historical importance is very big. This can be seen in the hardcover volume from the West Baton Rouge Genealogical Society. It's called "West Baton Rouge Families," and more than 100 families submitted stories and pictures to be included in this book. Many groups around the country participate in programs to compile family histories. The West Baton Rouge Genealogical Society started its project several years ago, and the results of the efforts came to a conclusion last summer when this volume was released. This one concentrates on families instead of the history, like so many of the others. At any rate, the result is good. The index alone tells the story of this book through its many surnames. Some are seen in more sketches than others, such as Allain, Babin, Blanchard, Bourg, Broussard, Clement, Comeaux, Daigle, Daigre, Dupuy, Foret, Hebert, Landry, LeBlanc, Lejeune, Marionneaux, Martin, Pecquet, Richard, Templet, Thibodeaux, Trahan, Tullier and Wilkinson. This doesn't mean these are the longest sketches. Some of the other less common surnames can be found in longer sketches. It would seem that this society sought quality and not quantity, and that makes it an excellent example for others to follow when planning a book of this type. This volume sells for $45. Make check or money order payable to West Baton Rouge Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1126, Port Allen, La. 70767. It is a must for all major genealogical library collections.