Pennsylvania Genealogy Research

Are you looking for some one to help you research your family history in Pennsylvania? I can help. For the low price of $30 per hour of research, I will do research in Harrisburg at the State Library of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Archives, and in the counties of Berks, Lancaster, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Philadelphia. Contact me at localhist@yahoo.com.

State Library of Pennsylvania

Until yesterday, I was the Genealogy/Local History Librarian at the State Library of Pennsylvania. Yesterday I was furloughed along with 21 other staff. As a result of the furloughs, the hours of the State Library in Harrisburg will be curtailed. Starting August 17, the library will be open only Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM. There will be no more Saturday or Tuesday evening hours for the foreseeable future. Researchers will still have access to all genealogy resources. Mr. Ray will still be there to offer his expert assistance.

Rich's Top 10 Places to Look for Your Relatives

Looking for ancestors can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Here is my list of where to look:

1. On the government rolls (the U.S. Census)

2. In the archives (Vital records)

3. In the book (City directories)

4. In church (Church records)

5. In the courthouse (Wills)

6. In real estate (Deeds)

7. In the Bible (Family Bibles)

8. In uniform (Military records)

9. In print (Newspapers)

10. In the ground (Cemetery records)

Help! I'm Stuck!

Everybody gets stuck while tracing their ancestors. What to do? Here is a list of ideas drawn from my experience in getting stuck in the snow:

1. Stop spinning your wheels.
2. Rest.
3. Take stock of where you are, what you know and write it on your pedigree chart (if you have one; if you don't, start one).
4. Think about what you need to find out.
5. Broaden your search to other resources or related people.
6. Go slowly and deliberately until you are on firm ground.
7. Work on someone else.
8. Call a professional (www.apgen.org)

Library Customer Service

What constitutes good customer service? Many things.

Good customer service includes the way library staff interact with patrons: friendliness, finding out what the customer wants, knowledge of the library's resources and other resources, knowing how to find the information.

Good customer service does not stop there. It includes everything that can be done for the benefit of the patron. This includes how the library is laid out; providing user guides and bibliographies to guide patrons in their search for information or whatever they need; enough light; climate.

Libaries that are serious about customer service will take all this into account. They will work hard at providing a good customer experience even if the patron does not find what he or she wants. They might start by creating the position of Manager of Customer Experience.