Using WorldCat for Genealogy: Thinking Outside the Chart

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Using WorldCat for GenealogyThinking Outside
the Chart

• Presented by
• Callie B. McGinnis
• Dean of Libraries
• Columbus State University
• Columbus, Georgia

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Presentation Outline

• I. What is WorldCat?
• II. What are the basic uses of WorldCat for
  genealogy?
• III. Using WorldCat for family history
• Promoting WorldCat
• VI. Barriers to WorldCats usage in
  genealogical/family history research

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First steps

• Understand what WorldCat is
• Envision all the ways it can be used for
  genealogical research

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WorldCATa database containing65 million
bibliographic records contributed by over 9,000
libraries
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Bibliographic records for Books Periodicals
(including newspapers) AV materials Archival
manuscripts Internet sites
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Typically,what kinds of WorldCat items would a
genealogist search for?
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Genealogists are looking for facts names, dates,
places relationships

• John Brown, b. 1667, Barbados, d. 1714, Maryland
  m. Ann Smith, b. 1673, Maryland, d. 1727,
  Maryland m. 1693, Maryland.
• Children John, 1695-1743 Robert, 1698-1625
  Ann, 1700-1762.

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Family histories
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County histories
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Extracted county recordsVital records
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Extracted county recordsProbate records
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Extracted county recordsLand records
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Extracted county recordsCensus records
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Extracted county recordsChurch records
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Extracted county recordsCemetery records
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Newspapers
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Bound newspapers
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Newspapers on microfilm
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Genealogical journals
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Once an item is identified, whats next?
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If its a book try to borrow it via ILL
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If its a newspaper try to borrow the
microfilm
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If its a journal try to contact the society
that publishes it to see if an index is
available then request photocopies of relevant
articles via ILL
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Things to consider in locating a copy of the item

• Try to borrow the item from a library that is not
  located near the locale treated in the
  publication
• Consider visiting the nearest library that owns
  the item if you cannot borrow it
• Consider trying to purchase the item

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Kicking it up a notch Going beyond genealogy

• Expand your vision to family history
• The final product in genealogy is a pedigree
  chart
• The final product in family history is narrative

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A family history includes information that
fleshes out the pedigree chart

• The basic effort in family history is to put your
  ancestor in context

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Research for family history is comparable to
research for any other type of historyit
involves an in-depth literature search
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Search Worldcat for items related to a wide
variety of topics in your family history
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The church your ancestor attended
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His involvement in historic events
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His occupation
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His creative endeavors
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Letters, diaries or other ms. items
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There are many other possibilities
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Once you value WorldCat,how can you promote it?

• Emphasize its value for family history
• Explain its usage in genealogy classes that you
  teach
• Show it to patrons in one-on-one situations
• Make it more accessible

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Barriers Related to Using WorldCat for
Genealogical Research

• The culture of now and the misconception that
  everything is on the web
• Aversion to traditional research methodology
• Complicated Interlibrary Loan processes and fees
• Reference librarians who avoid genies

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Final Words of Wisdom

• To enhance the value of WorldCat for
  genealogists, promote the concept of family
  history (i.e., placing your family in context)
• For the family historian who utilizes basic
  research methodology, WorldCat will be an
  essential tooljust as it is for scholars in
  academic disciplines