There exists a tension--at least a gap in understanding--between archivists who often have sought control and preservation, and the sometimes over-eager genealogist who desires ready (often online) access, indexes, and digitization--often at low or no cost. Because these parties rely on one another there should be greater affinity and cooperation. The evolution of the relationship between archivists and genealogists is a matter of discussion in academic journals, a substantial listing of which can be found hosted by Tulane University. Rhonda L. Clark, MLS, PhD, and Nicole Wedemeyer Miller, MA, MLS recognize the understanding gap between these professionals and genealogists as they state, “The information professionals who provide reference and others services for family history collections may have little or no specialized education or training in this area.”In recent years there has been a significant influx of book-length genealogy guides for librarians. Clark and Miller’s work is situated within, but stands out among this wave of new guides. Their guide is specifically designed to help both librarians and archivists serve genealogists. The other guides for librarians focus primarily on introductions to basic genealogy methods and sources, while Clark and Miller offer insight into how various patron services can assist the genealogist. The increased recognition of genealogists as important patrons is only sometimes mentioned in the other guides, but is evident from the guides’ mere existence. Clark and Miller call out the lack of published guides for archivists and librarians on genealogist-centered “institutional outreach, programming, and strategic planning.” My own professional experience supports their determination of a gap in the field. I first learned of their book during my own research in Fall 2020 as part of a genealogist-focused strategic planning project I undertook for the Oral History Association, and have found no other book that fulfills the same purpose.Clark and Miller are both professors of library science, and Miller teaches a university course in “Genealogy and Library Service,” as well as family history courses at her local county historical archives. She is a former reference librarian, and has published in local history and genealogy journals. They approach their effort with an experience-based sense of the importance of genealogy to the broader field, seeking to “foster” new and better family history services as their title suggests. Their introduction places genealogy’s popularity boom in the context of the social and public history movements, a context that I have personally discovered in my own prior research into the field’s evolution. Understanding the historio-academic context of genealogy practice will help information professionals approach this field--popularly seen as only a hobby--with some level of academic professional respect. Clark and Miller’s emphasis of the difficulty and complexity of genealogical research will also help in this respect. Their introduction reveals depth in their understanding of the genealogical field which continues evident throughout their work. It offers a valuable primer to information professionals for their chapters that follow, and reminds professionals that efforts to serve genealogists will accomplish one of their greatest goals. It will “get patrons in the door.”Each of the nine chapters focuses on an important aspect or issue in genealogy practice--many of which have warranted their own book-length guides in the genealogy field --and how the library or archive can help address the issue. In chapter one, they provide guidance on assisting patrons beyond what can be offered in an institution’s own collections, such as pointing them to outside resources or providing programming and education. In the next chapter, the connection between family and local history in terms of sources used and telling narrative family stories is discussed. Chapter three covers the connection between family and oral history, using oral history collections for family history, and helping patrons create family oral histories. The fourth chapter addresses the major problem of assessing and sorting home sources that so many genealogists face. Organizing, scanning, and donating family papers are among the topics discussed. The fifth chapter is a continuation in the sense that it speaks of gathering and organizing, but it is entirely focused on photographs. The chapter discusses proper archival management that families can implement, organization, and uncovering clues and information in photographs. Chapter six, partly a continuation on chapter one, focuses on helping staff and volunteers understand the questions a genealogist asks, the genealogical mindset, conducting a useful reference interview, using genealogical software and websites, and administrative aspect of genealogy reference services. Chapter seven details maximizing access to genealogically useful...

This is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to develop public programming and outreach for those interested in family history research. I was a student in Nicole Wedemeyer Miller's genealogy course at the University of Illinois. This class not only enabled me with to develop family history research skills but also enabled me to provide better genealogy reference to library patrons. I would highly recommend this publication if you are interested in learning how to make family history resources more accessible.

What a wonderful addition to my library of helpful books on genealogy.The authors are to be congratulated.

Very good and informative, Marilyn Hornback

Nicole Wedemeyer Miller is an expert in her field. This book is an excellent resource anyone who is developing a genealogy program at their library.