LIBR 548G – genealogy FOR LIBRARIANS - COURSE SYLLABUS

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 Course Goal: The goal of this course is to prepare students to provide library services to genealogists. Students will acquire a practical knowledge of key genealogical resources and explore related topics such as collection development, the reference interview, and library-based genealogy programming.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the goals of genealogical research.
• Describe the characteristics, needs and values of genealogists.
• Describe standard techniques and tools used in genealogical research.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of key genealogical resources and the ability to access them in a variety of formats.
• Use selected genealogy websites effectively.
• Demonstrate an understanding of related topics and issues.

 Course Topics:

• What is genealogy ?: the characteristics and appeal of a burgeoning hobby.
• Who are genealogists ?: characteristics, needs and values of genealogical researchers.
• The genealogical research process: standard strategies and tools used by genealogists.
• Key genealogical resources: characteristics of selected record types; methods of access.
• Genealogy super-sites:   three important websites for Canadian genealogical researchers.
• Genealogy in the library:
• Collection development.
• The genealogy reference interview.
• Referrals and inter-library loan.
• Service levels.
• Programming.
• Outreach.
• Genealogy and heraldry consumer fraud.
• Professional resources and current awareness for genealogy librarians.  

Prerequisites: LIBR 500, 501

Format of the course: Lecture and discussion, practical exercises and activities.

Required Reading :

Please purchase Custom Course Package from U.B.C. Bookstore.

• Bernstein, Elizabeth.   “Families: genealogy gone haywire.”   Wall street journal (15 June 2001): W1 ,W4.
  Full text available at UBC in Factiva
  
• Giff , Patricia Reilly.   Don’t tell the girls: a family memoir (2005).    Excerpt: “Michael’s Horses”:   75-88.
  In Custom Course Package
• Nicol , John.   “The search for roots.”   Maclean’s 112.38 (1999): 42-48
  Full text available at UBC in Academic Search Premier database
• Parker, J. Carlyle.   “Resources in the field – Genealogy part I – Discrimination against genealogists.”   Wilson library bulletin 47 (1972): 254-256.
  In Custom Course Package
• Tucker, Susan.   “Doors opening wider: library and archival services to family history.”   Archivaria 62 (Fall 2006): 127-158.
  In Custom Course Package
• Waddell, Dan.   Who do you think you are ?: the essential guide to tracing your family history (2004).   Excerpts:   “Bill Oddie”: 22-25; “Sue Johnston”: 136-139.
  In Custom Course Package  
• Williams, Zoe.   “Ancestor worship.”   Guardian Weekly: Comment is free (8 November 2006)
  www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1941852,00.html

Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark:

 

ASSIGNMENT	TOPIC	WEIGHT	DUE DATE
1	Reading response	15%	March 1, 2008 9:00 a.m. (at beginning of class)
2	Canadian genealogical record research - Each student will prepare a report based on individual research in primary Canadian genealogical records.	55%	March 28, 2008 4:30 p.m. (at SLAIS office)
3	Public library case study – Each student will review and evaluate genealogical resources and services offered by one Canadian public library.	30%	April 11, 2008 4:30 p.m. (via e-mail)

Course Schedule:

Saturday, March 1, 2008	9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	What is genealogy? Who are genealogists? The genealogical research process Key genealogical resources
Saturday, March 8, 2008	9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Genealogy super-sites Genealogy in the library

Attendance: The calendar states: “Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes.”  

This is an intensive short course, and full on-time attendance on both days is required.  

Evaluation: All assignments will be awarded letter grades using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS web site.

Written & Spoken English Requirement: Written and spoken work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the opinion of the instructor, deficient in English.

Academic Dishonesty: Please review the UBC Calendar "Academic regulations" for the University policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty: http://www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=3,54,111,959. Also visit and review the contents of these two resources: Plagiarism Resource Centre: For Students: http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/plagiarism/welcome.html and Plagiarism Avoided: Taking Responsibility For Your Work: http://www.arts.ubc.ca/Plagiarism_Avoided.373.0.html for useful information on avoiding plagiarism and on correct documentation. Students are held responsible for knowing and following all University regulations regarding academic dishonesty. If a student does not know how to properly cite a source or what constitutes proper use of a source it is the student's personal responsibility to obtain the needed information and to apply it within University guidelines and policies.