Seats still available for RUSA genealogy institute in Boston

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Contact: Liz Markel

Marketing Specialist<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

(312) 280-4398

lmarkel@ala.org

NEWS

For Immediate Release

December 8, 2009

CHICAGO—Although advance registration has ended, there are still seats available for the upcoming Midwinter Institute “The Genealogy Reference Desk: Where Everyone Knows Your Name,” a full-day workshop whose content will benefit public librarians, academic librarians, experienced genealogists and those who are new to or have an interested in genealogy reference.

The workshop, which is presented by the History Section of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) and generously sponsored by ProQuest, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), 99 Newbury Street, Boston in conjunction with the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting. Workshop presentations will focus on New England genealogy resources and genealogy research techniques. Lunch is included with each purchased registration.

This event’s speakers will present topics specific to New England and Colonial Research, along with general research methodology, and include:

  • D. Brenton Simons, president and CEO of the NEHGS, who will address “Sustainability in Genealogical Collections" and maintaining an institution during an economic downturn.
  • Christine Baron, principal of Baron Consulting, who will speak on the “Old North Church Project”—an NEH-funded collaborative project among the Old North Foundation, New England Historic Genealogical Society and HyperStudio-Laboratory for Digital Humanities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology aimed at creating an online educational program that combines public history and genealogy.
  • Laura Prescott, a professional researcher, writer and speaker and consultant for Footnote.com who previously worked for NEHGS and will present “Timelines: Placing Your Heritage in Historic Perspective.
  • Drew Smith, one of the Genealogy Guys, owner of the Genealib listserv and an information literacy librarian at the University of South Florida, will be speaking on “Using Web 2.0 Tools with a 101 Knowledge Base”.
  • David Dearborn of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and a New England specialist, who will present “An Overview of American Colonial Records”.

Interested participants can register for this event only, or can register in conjunction with Midwinter Meeting registration by adding it as a ticketed event. For institute-only registration using the online form (login required), select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type, and proceed to select this event from the list. Information about the Midwinter Meeting and how to register by fax or mail can be found at www.ala.org/midwinter.

On-site registration rates are now available for this event, priced at $125 for RUSA members, $125 for ALA members, $100 for retired and student members and $245 for non-ALA members, all interested participants are strongly encouraged to register by Jan. 8, as only a handful of seats will be available at the door on the day of the event.

Founded in 1845, NEHGS is the country's oldest nonprofit genealogical organization in the country. Located in the heart of the Boston’s beautiful Back Bay neighborhood, their eight-story library and archive is one of the nation's leading research centers for genealogists and family historians of every skill level. The institute will conclude with a tour of this beautiful facility for participants only.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers advisory and resource sharing. Its History Section exists to represent the subject interests of reference librarians, archivists, bibliographers, genealogists, historians and others engaged in historical reference or research. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Not a member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, preconferences and other events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.