2015 LibTech Conference

PLEASE NOTE:  This is a hands-on session.  Space may be quite limited--you may be asked to double-up at workstations.  Seating is first-come, first-served.

You recognize them the minute they stop by the desk, they are the “Patrons with Ancestors.” Responding to genealogy requests can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating for both librarians and patrons. There are many online resources that Librarians can suggest that are free and user friendly. While Ancestry.com is considered the “go to” online genealogy resource, directing patrons to subscription-free websites allows patrons to conduct research outside of the library. Not all libraries hold subscriptions to online genealogy resources. There are so many sites to choose from, having a database of tried-and-true resources provides for better library service to genealogy researchers, as well as librarians and support staff. It takes time to find such databases, time that most librarians do not have. The resources that are presented have been researched and tested and are among the best non-subscription genealogy sites on the Internet. This workshop will address easy ways to connect patrons to online resources, present tips to help library staff efficiently respond to genealogy related requests, and discuss how patron genealogy researchers can add free reference materials and much more to a library’s collection.