Enrollment options
Course image Librarianship: Specialized Genealogy Sources
Basic Librarianship Courses
Course Summary:
Optional Print Course Material: Librarianship: Specialized Genealogy Sources
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
A fundamental component of library service is matching users with
their information needs. With genealogy, the assistance rarely
ends with the provision of sources. Many genealogists seek
further assistance accessing and decoding the information. To
further complicate the matter, the language and arrangement of
genealogical sources vary widely from source to source. There is
no single, standard language or format used in genealogy
reference materials. Librarians can offer the best assistance
when they have a thorough knowledge of sources and how they
work.
Course Length: 10 weeks
Contact Hours: 30
Grading Scale: 50% Tests/50% Assignments
Course Length: 10 weeks
Course Content
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to access or organize the records?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems/obstacles might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition of the source
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can the library use or develop to ease the search process?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 2
THE 1880 U.S. CENSUS
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to organize or access the records? Enumeration Districts or Wards?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems/obstacles might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the condition of the physical source
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can the library use to ease the search process?
11. What else does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 3
SOUNDEX INDEXING SYSTEMS
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to access or organize the records?
Viewing the Soundex citations requires a three-step process
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can librarians use to ease the search process?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 4
PASSENGER & IMMIGRATION LISTS INDEX
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to organize or access the records?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it offer information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the search for passenger lists?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 5
PERSI
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to organize or access the records?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it offer information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the search for periodical
articles?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 6
CITY DIRECTORIES
1. Why were they created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information gathered or compiled?
3. What system is used to organize and access data
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What obstacles might users encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it offer information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. What other format options are available?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the use of city directories?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 7
LAND OWNERSHIP ATLASES
1. Why were they created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information gathered or compiled?
3. What system is used to organize and access the data?
4. What special language, abbreviations or symbols are used?
5. What obstacles might users and librarians encounter?
6. Does it contain information beyond what it immediately apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are other format options available?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the use of land ownership maps?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 8
OBITUARY FILES & NEWSPAPER INDEXES
1. Why were they created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information gathered or compiled?
3. What system is used to organize and access the data?
4. What special language, abbreviations or symbols are used?
5. What obstacles might users and librarians encounter?
6. Does it contain information beyond what it immediately apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are other format options available?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the use of newspapers?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 9
PRACTICUM
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to access or organize the records?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems/obstacles might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition of the source
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can the library use or develop to ease the search process?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 2
THE 1880 U.S. CENSUS
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to organize or access the records? Enumeration Districts or Wards?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems/obstacles might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the condition of the physical source
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can the library use to ease the search process?
11. What else does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 3
SOUNDEX INDEXING SYSTEMS
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to access or organize the records?
Viewing the Soundex citations requires a three-step process
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can librarians use to ease the search process?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 4
PASSENGER & IMMIGRATION LISTS INDEX
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to organize or access the records?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it offer information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the search for passenger lists?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 5
PERSI
1. Why was it created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information compiled?
3. What system is used to organize or access the records?
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What problems might the user encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it offer information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are there other format options?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the search for periodical
articles?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 6
CITY DIRECTORIES
1. Why were they created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information gathered or compiled?
3. What system is used to organize and access data
4. What special language, symbols or abbreviations are used?
5. What obstacles might users encounter?
6. Does it offer information beyond what is immediately apparent?
7. Does it offer information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. What other format options are available?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the use of city directories?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 7
LAND OWNERSHIP ATLASES
1. Why were they created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information gathered or compiled?
3. What system is used to organize and access the data?
4. What special language, abbreviations or symbols are used?
5. What obstacles might users and librarians encounter?
6. Does it contain information beyond what it immediately apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are other format options available?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the use of land ownership maps?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 8
OBITUARY FILES & NEWSPAPER INDEXES
1. Why were they created?
2. Under what circumstances was the information gathered or compiled?
3. What system is used to organize and access the data?
4. What special language, abbreviations or symbols are used?
5. What obstacles might users and librarians encounter?
6. Does it contain information beyond what it immediately apparent?
7. Does it contain information that is suspect?
8. What is the physical condition?
9. Are other format options available?
10. What tools can librarians use to enhance the use of newspapers?
11. What does the librarian need to know?
MODULE 9
PRACTICUM