Genealogy Collection News -April 2007

THE STATE  LIBRARY  OF  OHIO’S  “OHIO,  THE  GATEWAY TO  THE WEST” GENEALOGICAL  AND  LOCAL  HISTORICAL  COLLECTION MOVES TO COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY

The genealogy collection at the State Library of Ohio is scheduled to be transferred to the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Genealogy, History and Travel Department (96 South Grant Street across from Grant Hospital) shortly after the meeting of the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference in Columbus (April 12-14).  There are a number of reasons for this move.  In recent years, we have experienced serious cutbacks in resources and staff due to the budget shortfalls in state revenues caused by the weakness of the Ohio economy.  We need to focus existing resources to improve our statutory function of providing reference services to Ohio state government agencies.  Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) will be able to continue the good service and outreach which the genealogy program at the State Library provides while devoting more resources for book purchasing, preservation of materials, and web coverage which the State Library has been unable to do.  CML has a staff of 8 full-time librarians and is open to the public weekend and weekday evenings in addition to normal business day hours.  The State Library has only two full-time librarians and closes on evenings and weekends. 

In 75 years, we have created a traditional genealogy and local history collection of 35,000 books and several thousand microforms.  The Ohio D.A.R. Bible and Family, Huguenot Bookcase, Joy Wade Moulton British Isles, and Margaret Main Bouic Delaware and Union County, Ohio Genealogical Index are unique collections in our library.  Devoted to the theme of “Ohio, the Gateway to the West,” the collection focuses upon the New England, Middle Atlantic, and Southern Border states, as well as the state of Ohio.  The library is also strong in the subject areas of military records and family histories.  Once a “best kept secret,” many researchers across the state have become acquainted with this collection through staff presentations to local O.G.S. chapters and other organizations in the past eight years.

While the State Library will no longer serve walk-in or corresponding genealogy patrons, it will continue promoting genealogy virtually.

While still providing the bulk of information for family historians, traditional collections will only remain relevant through increased advertising, greater access, a helpful and knowledgeable staff, and nourishment by new materials.  The Columbus Metropolitan Library has the resources and willingness to continue this valuable and important service to the genealogical public of Ohio.

While the State Library will no longer serve walk-in or corresponding genealogy patrons, it will continue promoting genealogy virtually.  The library plans to offer researchers access to genealogical and local historical information through digitization of Ohio items from its collection.  

By the “passing of the torch” from the State Library of Ohio to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, this collection will maintain its integrity and its theme, “Ohio, the Gateway to the West,” while providing the services and resources the genealogical public deserves.