February 10, 2010

Makeup Work: 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy Week 2

This is my blog entry for Week 2 of the challenge created by Amy Coffin of We Tree and hosted by GeneaBloggers.com.

Here is the assignment:
Go to your local public library branch again. Examine the local history, archives and/or special collections section. Ask a librarian if you don’t know if your library has special collections or where they are located. Be sure to check the reference section, too, as many of the newer and more valuable books are held in that area. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s local history and special collections.

Maybe I didn't understand the directions again but this was either an easy assignment or a trick question. I consulted the librarian in the reference section and this is what we came up with: we have a small library with limited resources and special collections are limited. We have a Texas collection of books and the Granger collection. As far as local history, there are a few books written about families or places in the county, and there is a vertical file with newspaper clippings and letters donated by local families. As far as archives, the local newspapers are all on microfilm dating back to the late 1800's. They aren't indexed so it is rather time-consuming to find obituaries or news articles.

We also have the DAR registers, but they are currently out being indexed.

So that's about it for this assignment. I didn't have time to pull my camera out and snap pictures of these collections, but maybe I'll go back to do that. I have found it helps a lot to take pictures of the location of certain books in the library, especially if they are in an area I don't go to often and there is no numerical way to find it easily.

Until next time, may you have blessings and good luck with your searching,
Marti