News Monthly Newsletter October/November 2003	Contents: The Lighter Side of Genealogy - Gretchen Persohn What's Happening at the State Library - Jay Burton State Library Board Report Library Levies & Bond Issues

The Lighter Side of Genealogy One of the most popular services at the State Library

Gretchen Persohn Head Research Services

Genealogy is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States, second in popularity only to gardening.

This comes as no surprise to staff at the State Library. It has long been one of the most popular services we offer the general public. Since our move to our new location, the number of patrons visiting the library to research their family history continues to increase. Our readily available parking and easy access from I-71 and I-670 has helped in this respect.

Over the years the genealogy staff has gathered together a file of some of the quirkier questions and silly situations they have dealt with. Looking over this file is a trip down memory lane of the last twenty-something years of the State Library's genealogy department.

We here at the State Library have the utmost respect for United States Postal system. The following are some of the addresses patrons sent their letters to that we actually received:

• Ohio Roster Commission
• State of Ohio Official Roster
• Civil War 1861-1866

No one is quite sure how anyone at the Post Office deduced these should come to the State Library of Ohio, but they made it.

Census records are some of the most useful tools for tracing family histories. In the censuses for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 citizens filling out their census information were asked if anyone in the household had died in the past year. This information was then compiled into what was known as the Mortality Schedules. One letter writer queried the State Library as to whether we had any of the "Morality" Schedules - an interesting Freudian slip.

In 1921 most of the 1890 Federal Census was destroyed by fire. Genealogists have long lamented this since so much irreplaceable information was lost. One patron who wrote to us seems to have been somewhat confused about this however. She wrote asking about a "huge fire that swept through Ohio" in 1890 killing many people. There is no longer a record of our reply back to this patron, but hopefully she rested more easily knowing that only the records were destroyed, not the people themselves.

The actual census records are often cause for much amusement. The 1850 census for Itasca County Minnesota lists "Mr. Unknown" on page 14. Even though his name is not known he is listed as a 40-year-old male who was born in France and worked as a Catholic missionary. This must surely be a frustrating dead end for an avid genealogist.

The 1860 census for Hunterden County New Jersey contains the following tidbit of information - "This gent has a 'goose' 86 years old. This is the true age." Obviously that census taker felt that this was information important enough to include for posterity.

Our staff members have had their share of odd happenings too. One current librarian remembers an incident that happened years ago, but it still sticks in his mind. He was sitting at his desk, which at the time had a view of parts of the genealogy research area. As he looked up, he noticed a hand reaching into a woman's purse. The male owner of the hand happened to look up and see the librarian watching him, so he slowly removed his hand. He then walked up to the librarian's desk and the librarian, who was understandably somewhat nervous about the whole situation, asked "May I help you?" The patron didn't reply but since he was standing near the family name file the librarian asked, "Is there a particular name that you are interested in researching?" The patron responded with the name "Crooks" and then hurried away.

Other patrons have sent interestingly odd requests. One woman was looking for an ancestor who fought in the Civil War. She did not know his company or regiment, but she did mention that he supposedly died of homesickness. Another patron must have been concentrating on genealogy too much because he sent us a letter asking to renew his library card because his old one was "out of dead!"

A letter that is legendary with staff is referred to as "the famous root beer jar" letter. The patron sent a very well written letter full of all the details the librarians needed to find the information requested. But the last paragraph contained a further request not related to genealogy. We were instructed to ask someone who worked here if she had ever canned tomatoes in root beer jars and welcomed any suggestions about how to do it.

Not all humorous happenings in genealogy have been in the past. Just recently a patron was looking for the name of the ship that her ancestor had immigrated to the United States on. The State Library has an extensive selection of ship passenger resources so we had little problem finding her ancestor, whose name was rather uncommon. He emigrated from England in the mid 1700's as a convict. The patron was very distraught to find that her ancestor was a convict and speculated that the convict was not the same person as her ancestor. We had to inform her since her ancestor's name was not common and the date that he emigrated matched her research that it was most likely the same person. We told her not to take it too hard since it has been almost 300 years and at that time becoming a convict in England was not an uncommon occurrence.

Another gentleman came in a few weeks ago and informed us that he heard he could order death records from amazon.com. Amazon.com has many things, but so far as we know they aren't yet in the business of providing copies of vital records.

The State Library of Ohio's Genealogy department is hectic. It is sometimes frustrating trying to find elusive ancestors from eras when written records were not well kept. We are usually mind numbingly busy and there are tons of materials to re-shelve every day, but it is certainly never dull.

What's Happening at the State Library Just a few things going on

Jay Burton Head, Library Programs & Development

Staff of the Library Programs & Development Division often find ourselves representing the State Library at various meetings and gatherings. Somewhere on the agenda is usually the State Library Report. And we try to use that time to update the group on what's happening or upcoming at the agency.

In that light, we'd like to put in writing what you would hear if we were speaking to you. With that in mind:

* Summer Reading Program - The 2004 Summer Reading Manuals have been sent and should be at each of the main libraries. We were able to afford one for every branch, but all the manuals have been sent to the main library in each of the 250 systems. In addition, a separate young adult summer reading manual was sent to each main library. Reports so far indicate that people like what they see and are excited to be part of the 27 state summer reading consortium. Questions about the program in general can be directed to Jay Burton at lpd@sloma.state.oh.us.

* Summer Reading Program Workshops - We're finalizing the workshops for 2004 and so far have 6 sites selected. Dates and times will be announced by the end of November. Included next year will be a workshop right here at the State Library. Questions about the workshops can go Rebecca Felkner at rfelkner@sloma.state.oh.us

* Summer Reading Program Web Site - Ruth Metcalf is working with Barb Scott from the Bucyrus Public Library to put together the web presence for librarians to use when putting together next year's program. Target date for the web site is the end of November or early December. Watch for an official announcement via the library directors' email and the OPLINlist. Ruth can be contacted with questions at rmetcalf@sloma.state.oh.us

* Services to Spanish Speaking Patrons - With more and more native Spanish speaking patrons visiting the library, it's sometimes a challenge to meet their needs as they learn English and adapt to their new surroundings. State Library is involved in a project with New Carlisle Public Library and Clark County Public Library that combines public service announcements, print resources and other methods to promote library services to this group of patrons. Materials and programs are just about ready for these libraries to put to work. Questions about the project can be directed to Jan Haines at jhaines@sloma.state.oh.us

* Database Training - One of the biggest projects State Library is involved with is the database training initiative. A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was the catalyst for 28 training sessions statewide on basic search skills using EBSCOhost and SIRS Discoverer. The Regional Library Systems (www.rls.lib.oh.us/) were instrumental in making this work statewide. In addition to the face-to-face training sessions, training is available online at the State Library's eLearning Center. Check it out at slo.minds.tv/ Questions or comments can be directed to Jay Burton at jburton@sloma.state.oh.us

* New State Library Division - Labor & Government Relations combines the work of Human Resources and advances into the important task of promoting and developing services to our state government customers. Dennis Van Sickle heads up this newest division. Other staff includes Bill Morris, Cheri Wilks, Karen Lamb, Jane Byrnes and Pat Haas.

* Statewide Resource Sharing (MORE) marches on. Project manager Angela Thomas is busy juggling the demands of current users and those interested in taking part in this exciting statewide resource. You can email Angela directly with questions at athomas@sloma.state.oh.us and read all about it at www.moreforohio.org/

That's it for now. Just a few things going on that it will pay you to know about.

State Library Board Report

At the November State Library Board meeting, Michael S. Lucas, State Librarian, told the Board that the State Controlling Board approved the increase in spending authority for LSTA funds. This allows the State Library to grant $248,000 to the Regional Library Systems as awarded at the September Board meeting.

Jay Burton, Head, Library Development and Programs, discussed a proposed continuing education program which would be a joint effort between the State Library and the Regional Library Systems. The program would provide training in core library skills that is free to all librarians statewide. The skills would be taught on a regular basis, with a standard curriculum and consistent format.

The State Library would determine the skill sets, program content, and timeline. The Regional Library Systems would assist in this process, including the identification of trainers to conduct the training. Mr. Lucas pointed out that this cooperative venture would compliment the Library Futures Initiative.

Mr. David Miller, Board member, commented that the Regional Library Systems would be serving non-members as well as the members of each system.

The Board will be updated on this potential program at the December Board meeting.

Dr. Rick Rubin, Director of the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science, and Doug Evans, Executive Director of the Ohio Library Council (OLC), discussed the Library Futures Initiative. The Futures Initiative is the first comprehensive review of the future of public library service, conducted on such a large scale.

Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian, presented the Web Junction video. WebJunction (http://www.webjunction.org/) is an online community of libraries and other agencies sharing knowledge and experience to provide the broadest public access to information technology. In 2002, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) a three-year grant to build a portal for public libraries and other organizations that provide open access to information. Building on the Gates Foundation's Library Program, WebJunction will help libraries stay connected.

Mr. Verny also discussed the Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) study of the effectiveness of school libraries. An expert panel found 39 schools that were models of good media centers. As part of the study, an online survey was posted and over 13,000 responses were received. The Board will receive further updates of the process and preliminary analysis of the results at the December and April Board meetings.

Mr. Verny also reported we received a request for additional information to support the Staying Connected Gates Grant proposal. The grant will provide public access computing equipment to 18 libraries that have populations living in areas of persistent poverty. The grant will also support both face-to-face as well as on-line training on the six new suites of core Libraries Connect core databases. Support for the OPLIN Help Desk is also included in the grant. The grant requests $358,000 from the Gates Foundation and is matched by $179,000 in OPLIN funds. We will submit a response, answering any questions.

Jay Burton, Head, Library Development and Programs, discussed the progress of the E-Learning Center, the online database training site.

Mr. Burton introduced Rebecca Felkner to the Board. Ms. Felkner is the new Library Consultant for Schools.

Dennis Van Sickle, Director, Labor & Government Relations, showed the new State Library display to the Board and described the development process. As part of the marketing plan for the State Library displays were developed and professionally designed to be used at conferences and visits outside the Library. The displays were developed based on the State Library's Strategic Plan and the identification of our customer base: Ohio state government, Ohio libraries and citizens.

Mr. Lucas presented a thank you note from Terry Mullins, Executive Director of the SOLO Regional Library System, for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds the Board awarded at its last meeting. The note was signed by the directors of the public libraries in the SOLO area and by Pam Hoesman, president of the NORWELD Board of Trustees.

The Board passed a resolution upon her retirement, thanking Selba Starkey for her 24 years of service to the State Library.

The next State Library Board meeting will be at 1:00 p.m., December 11, 2003 in Columbus, Ohio.

For the minutes of State Library Board meetings, go to http://winslo.state.oh.us/boardmin.html.