Friday, January 29, 2010

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Challenge #4




I'm glad for week four's challenge to learn about our library systems Inter-Library Loan program. I have known this system is available to me, but I have never taken advantage of the service.

As others participating in this challenge found, I can request a book through the ILL system online. WorldCat is accessed through a remote database login using my library card number. Once logged in you are at the splash page for "Show-Me The World" which allows access to materials in libraries worldwide as well as access to the over six million items held in Missouri public libraries. Once you have entered the catalog area, you search for books the same as you would on any other online catalog.

This is where the real challenge came into play. My library system is the Mid-Continent library system, which contains the Mid-West Genealogy Center. I actually had to do many searches to find a book, in the areas I was interested in, that was NOT already in our library system.

The book I selected to request for inter-library loan is "History & families Oldham County, Kentucky: the first century, 1824-1924." This book is available from one Missouri library and 23 other libraries world wide. My request was processed on Monday, it is now Friday. I just checked my account and I am first on the list to receive this book. Hopefully, early next week I will receive an email telling me that my item is ready for pick-up.

After seeing how easy the process is, I will definitely be spending more time looking through the Show-Me The World catalog.

4 comments:

  1. I wish I had time to read! Well, I do have some time, but read blogs! I will check out audio books at my local library and listen to them while I cook or sew. Muti-tasking, you know.

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  2. Hi Jenna,
    Have you checked the PERSI index? It indexes articles from various publications, including many genealogy society journals. I know you can access PERSI through HeritageQuest if your library subscribes. I've ordered many articles through ILL, and they typically send photocopies. Lots of good, hard to find information available in those journals. :) Gotta love ILL.
    Karen
    AncestorSoup.blogspot.com

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  3. Kathy, I completely understand the multi-tasking! I listen to podcasts when walking!

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  4. Karen, I have looked at PERSI but not in a while, thanks for the reminder!!!

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