Genealogy and the Librarian

September 15, 2018

The 34 essays in this collection, compiled and edited by writer Smallwood and Gubnitskaia (reference librarian, Valencia Coll.), explore ways that librarians can take advantage of the popularity of genealogy and family history research to create new services and connect with new user populations. Topics include collaborative projects with other institutions to preserve at-risk collections, genealogical research instruction for patrons and staff, and outreach strategies. Several entries deal with specific record types. Standout pieces address crowdsourcing for accuracy, historical sources such as Sanborn Maps and WPA County Files, and the creation and management of local digital collections. VERDICT Although the quality of the essays varies and some will prove lacking in fresh insight to moderately experienced librarians, those developing or expanding services for genealogists should find some inspiration, particularly from the case studies.--Sara Shreve, Newton, KS

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