Blog

Library Survey Feedback – Part 1: Suggestions for Our Website

Posted by:

Members of the Library Committee hard at work during a recent committee meeting. L-R: Linda Edwards, Shirley Hoye, Wendy Polivka and Karen Halfon.

by Chris Pattilo, Library Committee Chair

Recently we sent out a survey to all CGS members from the Library Committee. We wanted to learn more about how you have used the library in the past and plan to use it in the future. We asked about areas of research interest and what our members would like to see more of in the library. The number of responses was greater than we’d hoped for and the feedback we got is very insightful and will help guide what we focus on going forward. Lots of information is available on our website under the “Library” tab.

“What material would you like added to the library that we don’t have?”

We received many good comments to this question. Since the submissions were anonymous, I’ve decided to respond to some of these comments in a series of blog posts. Many of your comments related to what resources are available on our website so I will start by responding to those.

Comment: I visit the library only occasionally. Getting there from the San Jose Area is difficult and time-consuming. Library visits are usually added to a class/seminar I decide to take, making the trip worthwhile.

Response: We understand that getting to the library can be challenging for members who live beyond the immediate Bay Area. That is why much of our focus during COVID has been on getting more information on our website. For an overview, try watching the video “CGS Website & Library” on our YouTube channel or from our home page. You can view this video and more on the “See Videos” tab at the bottom of the home page. This video explains what you can access from home on our website, enabling you to use whatever time you have in the library more efficiently.

Comment: More online materials, and pointers to online sources for the books you have in-library (if possible). Joined during pandemic, do not live close by, and still limiting activities due to Covid. Thanks!

Response: See the response to the question above about the “What’s in the Library” video. As soon as the pandemic began we seized the opportunity to keep our member content while staying safely at home. Those volunteers have invested hundreds of hours indexing books, family trees, material from our manuscripts collection and more. All of this searchable material has been added to our website. Check it out and let us know if you find a treasure you’d not previously known about.

Comment: Not sure how to find anything in the library. Browsed some books only once. Maybe a map of where everything is located could be of help.

Response: A few months ago, CGS member Kathie Jones created a very nice map of the library. I had it printed and posted it in the library by the copy machine. You can also see the map on our website under the “Library” tab. When you visit, don’t hesitate to ask the desk volunteer any questions or request a tour.

Comment: Is your shelf list on a website I can access – so I can deduce which items I can see on a visit?

Response: I am glad you asked this question, and the answer is yes! Some years ago, the CGS board made the decision to list all our books on WorldCat – the world’s largest library catalog. WorldCat was created in 1967 by Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) to keep track of the world’s information in order to best serve researchers and scholars. When you access WorldCat via our website, it is automatically filtered to show only books that are available at the CGS library. To access the catalog from our website, click on the Library tab, then select “Library Catalog.” From there you can watch a video to learn how to use the catalog, or just click on the link to the catalog. It is very easy to use by entering keywords, a book title or an author’s name.

Comment: Sites on the internet for U.K. research: Scotland’s People, etc.

Response: This is a good suggestion. We do not have this currently, but I spoke with CGS member Maureen Hanlon, who has such a list for Irish resources with links to websites. She said she is happy to make the list available on our website. It will take a few days to figure out the best way to make it available but wait a bit and then go look for it. Maybe your comment will inspire another member to create similar lists for the rest of the U.K.

Comment: If we do not have it, it would be great to be able to easily research what and where other resources are located.

Response: You might start on our website on the “Research” tab at the top of the page. A good starting place is to click “Research Links: Start Here.” You will also see links to many sites for California research, to other libraries and societies, and to four sites that focus specifically on Forty-Niners.

Comment: I am a recent member of CGS, and am just getting started on my California “Valentine” line of ancestors, who arrived about 1849 in Santa Clara/Santa Cruz counties.

Response: See the previous comment – those Forty-Niner links might be a good place for you to start.

Comment: More online resources – is anything available with the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Response: The best place to find online resources available from NEHGS is their website. Our library does hold copies of many NEHGS documents. You can search the keyword “NEHGS” in WorldCat and a list of 206 items will be shown.

Comment: I am satisfied with the printed materials and sites available on CGS’s computers. Perhaps it would be helpful to let patrons know what books are available for free online. Then those books may be removed from the CGS library to make room for other books.

Response: First, we are glad to hear that you are satisfied with what CGS offers in printed material. Second, one way to find out what books are available digitally is on WorldCat. When you do a general search – say entering the keyword “Tennessee”, under “Format” you will see that we have 9 downloadable articles and one eBook. A more general keyword search like “genealogical research” will net a list of 23 eBooks. Finally, as to your comment about de-accessioning books from our over-burdened shelves, that is a project that the library committee is about to start. If you’d like to volunteer to help, we’d love to have you. Contact me at [email protected]

Comment: I would like to see you scan more of the earlier (out of copyright) materials so that people in other parts of the state can have access to more of the wonderful materials that you have collected.

Response: See the comment/response above – we’re working on this. We hope to purchase a high-quality scanner for the library soon that will expand our ability to digitize more of our material and will be available to members to scan personal items. Watch our blog for further information.

That is enough for this blog post but watch for more posts with responses to other comments in the future, and thanks to all who took the time to think about the questions and provide us with helpful input.

0