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Show Ted F. Powell, supervisor of Patron Services, checks book in Germanic Collection. Ca!!ff pu,Js ro!l of jnicrofi!m at Sait Lake genealogy library. Maggio Chang, cataloguer at genealogy library, works on Chine ever&l Important and strategic changes have heen made in The Genealogical Societys Salt Lake Library to speed up the work and make it more convenient for patrons. Delbert . Roach, librarian, said the renovation and new arrangements will allow patrons to specialize in their work and also give the reference workers for the society a chance to become better acquainted with their areas. Major changes indude: Letting patrons procure their own microfilm to use in readers instead of old method of waiting their turn for library workers to get it. Assistance will be available for those who desire it, said Ted F. Powell, supervisor. Patron Services. Reference works in one geographic or language area will be placed in one unit with study tables and microfilm readers available near the books and microfilm. When you realize that we are getting 500 books and 5,000 films a month in our library you can see why changes to speed up the work are necessary," Mr. Powell said. German reference books, microfilms and study tables are all in their own area, for example, and the reference worker for volumes. the society will be available there to render any assistance. The German, Netherlands and early LDS ward and branch records together with readers, bodes and films are all on the main floor of the library at 1st South and Main streets. The new block unit plan will help reference people keep abreast of what Is new. Theyll know our needs and wui be able to recommend purchases to the purchasing and cataloging department," said Mr Roach. Other reference works and films of the United States, Canada, Scandinavia and others that may not be used too much are downstairs with a large supply of microfilm readers. We feel this new system will help the patron cut down cm the time spent in doing research. Previously when all readers and references were downstairs, the patron would have to come up to the main floor If he had a question. Now everything Is all in one separate package few each category of geographic or language area," Mr. Roach added. Besides the main library in Salt i City, the society has 90 branch libraries and between 15 and 20 queries a day come into the main library from these branches. T-- A large staff also works on the second flow of the library cataloging all new reference works as they come into the library. Also purchases of books are made on this flow. Research Isnt the only business of the main library. Classes are taught on how to use records and other facets of genealogy. For example classes are given every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pun. and 7 p.m. for one hour on how to use the Name Tabulation System. These classes will go on indefinitely depending on demand by wards and stakes. They also will schedule classes fw wards, priesthood groups or other interested parties on how to use facilities of the library. We have groups in our classes other than members of the Church. These people are welcome to use our facilities here or in the branch libraries," Mr. Roach said. The library contains over 10 million feet of microfilm If this was all unwound it would become 13,258 miles of microfilm and go from Salt Lake City to New York City and return seven times. Material on the film would fill 3.5 million books of 300 pages each. PHOTOS BY STEVEN W. PARKER AND DAVID A. CONLEY 3 a Mr. and Mrs. Albert Greer, patrons at library, seek assistance of Mrs. Mary M. Howard, reference expert. Germanic collection unit has film readers, left; microfilm near readers, and books and study tables, right. |