ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERS

Genealogy Society Members Make Great Volunteers

Every library needs volunteers, and any library with a genealogy collection will need plenty of help. A genealogy society is a good place to get volunteers. Genealogical researchers like to talk about their famiilies, and many will be willing to sit and listen to the life histories of other researchers as well. Genealogists succeed when they collaborate, when they share detaiils about their familiies and their research, and when they work together on common lines. Ask Retirees Volunteer

Many of those who have the time to research their families are retired, and look forward to visiting the library to get out of the house and meet other people. Retirees make good genealogy volunteers, because they have time to spend helping people at the library, and because it gives them a chance to talk about the "good old days".

Use Young Volunteers Too

But young people are interested in genealogy as well. You can get students or young mothers to help shelve books, to teach about their heritage and to help with the membership and organizational duties of the society.

Success Story

Largo Public Library in Largo, Florida has been particularly successful in encouraging volunteers to help with all the details of managing a large genealogy colllection. The members help patrons, teach classes and hold seminars to raise money to increase the collection. Years ago, Jay Dopkin, former Director of the University of South Florida Special Collections Department, and Marjorie Hazel, a former an LDS librarian, helped organize the volunteers at Largo Public, and have made it a magnet for genealogy research on the west coast of Florida. A library can have a great genealogy collection if librarians are willing to organize it and encourage volunteers to help.

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Return to:

• Table of Contents
  • Organizing Societies
  • Encouraging Volunteers
  • Holding Classes and Seminars

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This website written and designed by:
Sharon Marie Centanne,
Genealogy Research Instructor and Internet Trainer
Please direct any questions to:
Sharon.

This page updated May 2, 2008

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