RUSA Board of Directors, 2006
B0604
INFORMATION
American Library Association
Reference and User Services Association
History Section Review, 2005
The purpose of the History Section is to represent the “subject interests of reference
librarians, archivists, bibliographers, genealogists, historians, and others engaged in
historical reference or research.” The only ALA group focusing on history, the History
Section brings together librarians from all types of libraries, including academic, public,
society, and research. Founded in 1961, the History Section turns forty-four this year.
This year the Section reviewed all five standing committees. The reviewed committees
include: Bibliography and Indexes Committee, Genealogy Committee, Local History
Committee, Genealogy Preconference Planning Committee, and Instruction & Research
Services Committee. As award committees, the Genealogical Publishing Company
Award Committee and the ABC/CLIO Award Committee were not reviewed. Reflecting
the increased activity and scope of the Section, the Genealogy Preconference Planning
Committee, the ABC/CLIO Award Committee, and the Instruction and Research
Services Committees have been added since the last Section review in 2000. Another
committee, the Historical Events Committee, was disbanded.
1. Describe the Sections’ procedure for creating and updating written goals.
The History Section does not have a formal procedure for reviewing goals and
objectives. The Sections’ objectives are listed in the Bylaws and on the web page.
Current members of the Executive Committee recall discussion of goals and objectives
in the early 1980s, but the discussion apparently did not result in a set of goals and
objectives. The Executive Committee plans to address this topic during the 2005 Annual
meeting.
2. In what ways have Section activities of the past five years fulfilled the Section’s stated
goals and objectives?
The objectives of the History Section are “to identify common problems and to
recommend solutions that can enhance service to users.” The Section meets these
objectives through a variety of activities, including programs, writing guidelines, classes,
and publications.
Some of the guidelines developed and updated by the section include the preservation,
conservation, and restoration of local history and local genealogical materials, guidelines
for editors of historical and genealogical bulletins and family newsletters, guidelines on
reprinting books for local interest, and guidelines for developing core genealogy
collections and services. Currently the Local History Committee is revising the
Guidelines for Building Local History Collections and the Genealogy Committee is
reviewing the Guidelines for a Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogical Research at
Schools of Library and Information Science.
History Section offers at least one program each year at the Annual conference to
address current problems in history research, reference or instruction. Responsibility for
the program rotates between the Bibliography and Indexes, Genealogy, Local History,
and Instruction and Research Services Committees. This year, 2005, two programs will
be offered: “Sustaining Digital Programs in Cultural Heritage” and “Primary Sources in
the Electronic Age: Challenges and Opportunities in Teaching Historical Research.” The
success of the preconference, originally offered by the Genealogy Committee, led to the
establishment of the new Genealogy Preconference Planning Committee. The
genealogical research classes offered through the preconference have met the needs of
hundreds of librarians and genealogists all over the United States. Partly because of the
success of the preconference, RUSA has now approached the Genealogy Committee
about developing an online course. This course will supply a needed educational tool for
genealogists, and will serve as a revenue source for RUSA.
The Bibliography and Indexes Committee contributes the “Best Bibliographies in History”
column to the summer issue of Reference & User Services Quarterly. Through the
reviews in this column, the Committee seeks to increase the visibility of historical
publishing, both print and electronic, and to influence publishers in their endeavors. The
Historical Events Committee successfully produced bibliographies in commemoration of
specific historical events, but was retired by the Section when little success was met
after attempts to produce web bibliographies.
3. How has the work of the Section contributed to priority areas of RUSA?
The History Section continually contributes to the “reference and users services” that are
the basis of RUSA. The Section makes this contribution through stewardship of the
cultural heritage and the historical materials of American society, and by advocating for
genealogy and local history.
One contribution to professional development for both librarians and educators comes
through the webpage, “Using Primary Sources on the Web”, designed by the Instruction
and Research Services Committee. Keeping in mind the RUSA goal to serve all types of
libraries and users, this guide is designed as a resource for academic, public and school
librarians as well as a resource for K-12 and college students.
The History Section has sponsored several successful conference programs that attract
members to RUSA. The Section has cosponsored programs with a variety of other
groups, including those outside of RUSA, such as REFORMA, ALLIC, and the Society of
American Archivists. A strong relationship is maintained with Genealib, the major
listserv for librarians who work with genealogists. This listserv, the “Best Bibliographies
in History” column, and the genealogy preconference all serve to increase awareness of
RUSA. History Section has promoted making information more accessible to library
users of all types through our Primary Source webpage, through our work with
REFORMA, and through programs like the Genealogy Committee’s adoption seekers
program at Toronto. By promoting instruction on history related databases (for example
the Genealogy Committee regularly has vendors give database instruction) the Section
keeps members current on new products and services. Besides members of the
profession, the Section’s preconferences train professionals who work in isolation and
who service patrons not able to travel to large collections.
The two award committees of the History Section highlight the achievements of
librarians who have made contributions in historical reference and research librarianship.
These rewards increase the visibility of the Section, and of RUSA, while honoring its
members. The Genealogical Publishing Company Award honors librarians in the
traditional areas of bibliography, book reviewing, indexing, professional association
leadership, programs and training. The ABC/CLIO award is new to the section, and will
be awarded for the first time in 2005. This award encourages the development of freely
available, sustainable online history resources by singling out innovative projects and the
individuals who create them
4. What is the interest level in the Section as evidenced by attendance and participation
by members and observers?
The interest in the History Section is best displayed by the need to form three new
committees, the popularity of the preconferences, and the strong attendance at our
programs. The Section now has two dinners, demonstrating the increase in sense of
comradeship and the realized importance of networking among Section members.
While the Section does not keep statistics, all Committees report that meetings are well
attended and generally have visitors. The Genealogy Committee notes it now has
nearly 30 members, and several active subcommittees and task forces. Section
committees usually reflect a broad membership base, including librarians from all types
of libraries, archivists, and faculty.
The Section’s programs are popular and generally well attended. After offering the
preconferences only at the Annual meeting for several years, these classes are so
popular RUSA also began to offer them at Midwinter in 2003 and 2005.
5. What changes should take place in the Section’s organization, activities, or goals?
A major change suggested by several committees as well as the Executive Committee is
the creation of a Program Committee for the Section. Several of the committees
commented on the time programs take from regular committee work and confusion over
the order in which committees become responsible for a program. The Program
Committee would work with the other Section Committees by handling the logistics of
the programs, but not the content.
The Bibliography and Indexes Committee recommends reviewing and expanding the
Committee’s charge to include other types of reference sources and electronic
resources. The Committee is concerned about the narrow focus on the bibliographic
format of historical reference publishing. B&I notes that as fewer bibliographies are
published a change in, and broadening of, the charge is increasingly important if the
Committee is to remain relevant.
Other changes mentioned include increasing the Section’s web presence, supplying
more resources for librarians and end users. The popularity of the “Using Primary
Sources on the Web” page clearly shows that there is need and a demand. The Section
would like an ALA Section webpage that is easier to locate. More use of technology,
such as message boards, would increase communication between members of the
Section. In addition, a tool like the message board would serve as a means to help
preserve the memory of Section exchanges. Section members feel that History Section
needs to do more to get its resources out to other members of ALA, making our products
more accessible to other ALA members and outside groups.
This review of the History Section includes all standing committees. The award
committees and the discussion groups were not reviewed. All of the committee reviews
were completed at Midwinter, 2005. Committee reviews are attached.
Bibliography and Indexes Committee--reviewed by Theresa Mudrock
Genealogy Committee--reviewed by Mary Mannix
Local History Committee--reviewed by Drew Smith
Instruction and Research Services Committee--reviewed by Theresa Mudrock
Genealogy Preconference Planning Committee--reviewed by Susan Malbin
Submitted by Carla Rickerson
June 20, 2005