Commentary About NYG&B and Other Genealogy Libraries

I have been watching the developments at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) for more than a year now, as have hundreds or perhaps thousands of other interested genealogists. It is a sad spectacle to watch a major, mainstream society dissolve into almost nothing. A number of thoughts pop to mind, and I decided to share some of them here.

First of all, I'll ignore the legalities as I am no lawyer. There are claims being made about the method in which the NYG&B's downsizing and sale of assets has been handled. That's not my area of expertise and I will ignore all such discussion. I hope someone else with legal expertise does write about that.

Next, while I am saddened to see a major genealogy library go out of existence, I don't think any of us should be too surprised. In fact, this is not the first or second or third time that a genealogy library has folded. It is a sign of the times. Many such libraries face economic realities and find that they can no longer continue in the same manner of operation they have used for years.

Up to this year, perhaps the best-known library closing was the 2001 decision by the National Genealogical Society to transfer its library in Arlington, Virginia, to the St. Louis County Public Library in Missouri and to continue all lending privileges from there. (Some reference works, rare books, and the manuscript collection remained at NGS headquarters.)

Next, in 2005 and 2006, the New England Historic Genealogical Society's closed its lending library. This was only the "lend books by mail" operation housed in Framingham, Massachusetts. The main library that we all know and love on Newbury Street in Boston remains open and appears to be financially sound.

NOTE I was very familiar with the decision to close the NEHGS lending library; I was an employee of the Society at that time and participated in many of the planning meetings. A tiny fraction of the society's members used the lending library. Nobody liked the idea of closing the lending library but the financial losses were obvious and were also growing yearly. Inaction at that time would have had dire financial consequences in later years. The decision was made to cut the losses and redirect the money to other projects that produced greater benefit to the entire membership.

Other genealogy libraries across the nation are facing similar problems: rising costs, lower patronage, and much more "competition." That competition might be direct competition from the Internet, or it may be in the form of indirect competition from the demands on the time of would-be genealogy researchers. In our society's focus on leisure time, we find many demands for our non-working hours. A day at the library may or may not be at the top of the list for many Americans.

Finally, ever escalating gasoline prices and even parking fees make it expensive to use many genealogy libraries. Commuting to New York City is expensive, whether by private automobile or by public transportation. Have you ever paid for parking at any location near the former NYG&B headquarters? For those who wish to use a library in almost any major city, these fees are included in the cost of spending a day at the library. Some libraries charge an admission fee for access to their holdings; these fees are typically minor compared to the expenses of travel and parking.

The recent problems faced by the Board of Directors of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society are quite similar to the problems faced earlier by NGS and NEHGS: costs continued to escalate, and library usage (and revenue) was not keeping pace. This is a situation that cannot exist forever; action is necessary. The wiser managers of such libraries will take action BEFORE the financial consequences force them into bankruptcy.

We can all second-guess the NYG&B Board of Directors: maybe they should have done this or perhaps they should have done that. Monday-morning quarterbacking is easy, but the Board didn't have that luxury. They had to find a solution first, and then act on whatever plan they created. They elected to close the library, sell the building, and transfer the library's holdings to an institution that will probably last longer and will offer greater and easier public access than what the society could ever envision by itself.

Was this the best possible decision? I don't know. But I have received many e-mail messages in the past year or so concerning the NYG&B, and I must say that I have not yet read a better plan. Many people are quick to criticize, but few are willing to step in, and and say, "I'll help."

Right or wrong, the Board of Directors made a plan and acted on it. The library's holdings will be available to the public, apparently in a manner that guarantees better access than ever before. The NYPL (the New York Public Library) is open more hours per week than was NYG&B. Those holdings will also be available free of charge although travel and parking fees will remain roughly the same as before.

What will be missing in the future is the ambiance. The feeling of belonging to an "exclusive club" will no longer be available. Patrons will not be able to walk into a quiet, oak-paneled reading room and be surrounded by oil paintings of long-dead club founders. Indeed, patrons will have to sit in public reading rooms at a major public library, perhaps surrounded by non-genealogists and the various derelicts sometimes found in public library reading rooms.

The decision has been made, and the action plan is underway. There will be second guessing by many former members and others. The online moaning and groaning on newsgroup message boards and perhaps in this newsletter's Comments Sections will be loud. However, I'm betting that no one will be able to create a better (financially sound) plan.

The recent problems and plans at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society are similar to the year 2001 problems and plans at the National Genealogical Society. There are also some similarities to the 2005/2006 problems and plans at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. I suspect we will read of similar problems and perhaps similar plans at other privately-endowed genealogy libraries in the future.

Let's pause for a moment and think about a nearby genealogy library that you use. I'll ignore public libraries that are funded by taxpayers' dollars. They have their own financial issues that are quite different. I'll also ignore the libraries that are funded by religious organizations, such as the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or the BYU library in Provo, Utah.

Let's focus for a bit on privately-endowed libraries that serve genealogists: the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, Connecticut; the New England Historic Genealogical Society's library in Boston, Massachusetts, the Peabody Essex Museum's library in Salem, Massachusetts, the D.A.R. Library in Washington, DC, or any of several dozen other libraries owned by genealogy societies or historical societies or museums. Will they survive in the future? SHOULD they survive?

The reality is that the cost of accessing physical books is rapidly increasing while the cost of accessing the same books online is quickly decreasing. Tens of thousands of genealogy books have already been scanned and are available online today at no charge on Google or at the Lee Library at BYU (see my earlier article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/11/byu_family_hist.html) or for free or modest charges at HeritageQuest Online. Manuscripts, books, and much more are available for free on FamilySearch.org and at reasonable fees from Footnote.com, Ancestry.com, and hundreds of other, smaller web sites. The Mormon Church is already hard at work on a huge project to convert all their microfilms to digital images.

Question: Do we (the genealogists) really want to spend $4.00+ per gallon of gas plus more for parking to look at genealogy books and manuscripts in person? Can we afford to do that if we live hundreds or thousands of miles away from the one library that holds the information we seek? Doesn't it make financial sense to take the money formerly earmarked to keep private genealogy libraries in operation and instead divert that money to scanning project that will place the same information online at no cost or low cost to everyone? That's "everyone," including those who live 3,000 miles away from the particular library in question. That access does not need to be limited to library hours; online patrons can access those books and manuscripts 24 hours a day.

Oh sure, we will have to do this from home. We cannot sit in high-ceiling reading rooms, surrounded by oil paintings of men dressed in ancient fashions looking down at us. The ambiance certainly will be different. I certainly will miss the genealogy libraries where I have spent so many delightful hours. But I think I will be a better genealogist for the experience and I will better understand my family's heritage.

This will not happen overnight. It will not happen in a year or two. It happened at the National Genealogical Society in 2001. It is happening at NYG&B in 2008. I suspect more privately endowed genealogy libraries will close in the next decade or two. Don't be surprised.

Probably the last such library to close its doors will be the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Sitting on a $20 million+ endowment that is growing, that library's future seems assured for some years to come. Yet, I suspect that even that library will someday have to face the issue that revenue isn't beginning to cover expenses. The books in that library, and all other genealogy books in other libraries that do not have copyright restrictions, should be scanned now and made available to all genealogists at reasonable fees. The same is true for manuscript collections: let's scan them. Once placed online and access requires a modest fee, I bet those libraries will see increasing revenues, not decreasing. Of course, one alternative is to sit back, do nothing, and wait for Google to give the same information away to everyone free of charge!

The Board of Directors at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society did what they had to do. So did the Board of Directors at the National Genealogical Society. Now I will offer my "Monday morning quarterback" assessment: It strikes me that perhaps the NGS, the NYG&B, and others should have digitized those books before giving them away.

I believe that libraries of the future will remain in business for many years on the web, if not in a "bricks and mortar" environment. I also believe that these future genealogy libraries will derive more revenue from distant online patrons than they ever could obtain from those able to walk in the front door.

I'll gladly pay a dollar or two to read a book online instead of paying $4.00 a gallon or more for gas plus parking fees to drive to a distant library. Will you?

Comments

[Tricia]

You make incredibly good points which I hope every private genealogical library is now considering. I hope that those upset by the way things were handled at NYG&B can try to be thankful that the collection was kept together and is still publicly available.

[alan]

Your logic on the future of libraries with crumbling genealogy books is impeccable. The NYGBS issue (like a lot of things in NY!) is more a matter of attitude. The announcement was made last Saturday. On Friday the "former members" had received their e-mail bulletins from NYGBS which contained not a clue about the final solution.

[Diane]

Yesterday, I performed my regular volunteer service in the library of my local historical society. A young patron, a college student, wanted to know why she couldn't photograph the records she wanted copies of - she could do it at the state and city libraries. She also wanted to know why our copies are .25 cents when she pays only .09 cents at the state and city libraries. I made the same points to her that Dick made: taxpayer dollars go a long way in keeping consumer prices down.

I have to wonder how long we will exist as an independent entity.

[Nancy Pexa]

I do not believe the NSDAR Library will ever close. It is dear to the heart of the membership. It is akin to one of the columns outside the building - strong - and standing tall. The collection in unlike any other library collection - a many-faceted resource for DAR members and non-members. I see, as a member, the access to various parts of the collection modernizing/changing as we move forward. The NSDAR leadership, and the director director and his staff make it work for all who visit the NSDAR Library. Physical attendance may change but users will still partake of the collection - there are fee-based options for ordering copies, research, etc. Perhaps more researchers will use these options. But I personally believe we will always have the NSDAR Library as a viable part of the DAR.

[Diane]

Yesterday, I performed my regular volunteer service in the library of my local historical society. A young patron, a college student, wanted to know why she couldn't photograph the records she wanted copies of - she could do it at the state and city libraries. She also wanted to know why our copies are .25 cents when she pays only .09 cents at the state and city libraries. I made the same points to her that Dick made: taxpayer dollars go a long way in keeping consumer prices down.

I have to wonder how long we will exist as an independent entity.

[Diane]

Yesterday, I performed my regular volunteer service in the library of my local historical society. A young patron, a college student, wanted to know why she couldn't photograph the records she wanted copies of - she could do it at the state and city libraries. She also wanted to know why our copies are .25 cents when she pays only .09 cents at the state and city libraries. I made the same points to her that Dick made: taxpayer dollars go a long way in keeping consumer prices down.

I have to wonder how long we will exist as an independent entity.

[Barbara]

It is a relief to know that the holdings of the NYB&G Society will be donated to the NY Public Library. However, how long will it take for that library to process this material into their collection? It could be quite awhile before the NYB&G collection is again in circulation.

[Duncan Ness]

Yesterday was my volunteer day at a local genealogical library (a branch of the Maine Genealogical Society). My task of the day was sorting and filing a mountain of miscellaneous research findings. there are many hidden answers and clues therein and all this will be available to the public that comes in. Yes, it is true that the Big Books are available on line as well as a lot of unsourced or poorly sourced research trees. But I suspect that serious researchers will always want to get into these "back corners".

[Drew Bartley, Genealogist, editor of Mayflower Descendant and Vermont Genealogy]

I am not afraid of the electronic world aiding genealogy. While I maintain a large reference library at home which I use daily, I also have electronic versions of material I do not own. Is it helpful? Yes. Does it replace a library? No.

I do not know how many times I have discovered new things I have later found of use seeing them in the library while I get what I need. There is some of that on the internet, but my experience has never been the same. If you could put an interactive bot online that was intuitive and knowledgeable like some of the librarians at the better genealogical libraries, then perhaps you could get rid of them. I do not see that. I do not get into NEHGS often enough these days, but the exchange of data through interaction with a librarian is of great value

When I am working on a project and need several references at the ready, it is the open books I have that I use over the electronic for every time. Flipping screens and between pages on each screen is not as easy as doing with the books. Others may argue differently, but I do it as a business and work this way every day. Both means are at my disposal and I do the method that works most efficiently for my clients. The books win hands down every time no matter how you cut it.

It will be a sad day for genealogists when the last library closes. Sure you can get the material at home in your bunny slippers. The problem is that many will not know what to do with the data when they have it. There will be no one to ask -- we sent them to the unemployment line!

[Pat]

It would be very helpful if Dick could start a list of the private genealogical libraries and their locations. Many potential users may not even be aware of one near them.

[Susi Pentico]

San Diego Genealogy Society has a private library. It is very expensive to operate but we feel worth it. I am a member and use it not as often as I would like due to distance. Nothing on their part for not available. Because it is a private library access for a non member is only on certain days that a librarian is available.

Chula Vista Genealogy Society has a library within the Chula Vista Library system at the main branch. We expand our library on a constant basis. It is also available the same hours as the library is open.
No books can be checked out of either library. Chula Vista is open to the public.
The Chula Vista Library does have a genealogical section that does have many books that can be checked out.
Susi Pentico

[Richard Grover]

The comments about cost of gas & parking are only part of the overall logic to digitize and place on line. I have enjoyed libraries in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, & Idaho in the past but my deterioriated health won't permit me to travel the long distances anymore. Books also deteriorate over time no matter how well they are cared for. Online access opens up easier methods to identify and access sources of information, and we really do need to find ways to cut the use of oil/gasoline.

[David G. Ball]

I am one of those "serious" New England researchers (I'm compiler of The New England Ball Project one-name study) that lives on the west coast of Canada and for me travel to any of the large libraries is prohibitively expensive. I am a member of NEHGS solely for the internet access to their vital records database; I even have a complete set of the pre-1850 vital records on CDs, but need the indexing capability from NEHGS. On several occasions I have commented to the staff of NEHGS that their membership fees of $75 a year are TOO CHEAP and that they should double that amount and use the funds to get more primary data available on-line to members, because that is what it will take to get non-New England members. Books with family trees are nice, but it is access to primary data...vital records, land records, probate records, church records, cemetery records, etc., etc.....that the real research is built upon. I was SO DISAPPOINTED when Ancestry.com devoted huge resources to index the 1901 and 1911 Canadian censuses that were already on-line for free, when there were lots of other Canadian censuses that are still unindexed (I know the 1881 is indexed by LDS, but the images are not linked). If we want to get some improvement in the quality of the trees posted on-line, then getting primary records on-line has got to help. Look at the number of people putting trees on the social genealogy sites and wonder how few of them have ever stepped foot into a major genealogy library. I love the ambiance of a major library, but I don't live near any. My only access is on-line.

[Darlene Scotti-Tribou]

I must agree with the posting by Drew Bartley. Online access to a library's genealogical holdings does not include the important benefit of consulting seasoned librarians who can guide patrons towards better, more accurate genealogical research methods. Quality of service is definitely being sacrificed for ease of availabilty.

Imagine that our "bricks and mortar" schools closed, and only the course books and materials were placed online: How many novices would actually succeed in becoming "well-educated" by only sitting at their computers and never stepping into the field?

[Della]

". . . . Look at the number of people putting trees on the social genealogy sites and wonder how few of them have ever stepped foot into a major genealogy library." -Thanks, David -excellent point!

What good is a "tree" with branches, twigs, and even leaves of unknown variety or species merely attached to the trunk, etc. with chewing gum, baling wire, or good old duct tape. Formerly, in the secretarial world, it was "garbage in; garbage out;" Now-a-days in the Internet forest, it's "garbage down; garbage up." Yet, do the downloaders and uploaders even question the so-called trees they have created (or borrowed) "all by themselves?" Ask one of them; they are so proud of their undocumented heritage! Oh, yes, and if they can find and attach a "family crest" to their tree, so much the better!

[Ted Rice]

Many genealogy libraries have not allowed their books to be scanned or photographed because it would "damage the books". But does it do more damage to scan them once or to handle them continually? Many of the older books are literally falling apart. Once scanned, the actual books would seldom have to be opened again as unlimited digital copies can be made.

The cost of travel is going to make it essential for libraries to go online, whether they charge an annual subscription fee or a per copy fee to users.

[Ted Rice]

>I must agree with the posting by Drew Bartley. Online access to a >library's genealogical holdings does not include the important >benefit of consulting seasoned librarians who can guide patrons >towards better, more accurate genealogical research methods. >Quality of service is definitely being sacrificed for ease of >availabilty.

>Imagine that our "bricks and mortar" schools closed, and only the >course books and materials were placed online: How many novices >would actually succeed in becoming "well-educated" by only sitting >at their computers and never stepping into the field?

Sorry to tell you this, but educators are seriously considering this option, at least for part of the school week, because of the high cost of busing.

The teachers would communicate with the students online - librarians can also do the same, by email or voice, using the internet.

It does cut down on personal contact, which is a loss, but our society is already moving in this direction. Colleges are increasingly moving to internet courses.

[Dick Eastman]

---> "...but the exchange of data through interaction with a librarian is of great value"

Agreed. But who says that librarians are prohibited from the online environment? Can't an in-home user still consult with a skilled librarian? I admit that doesn't happen often with today's technology but that is easily changed.

The State of Ohio has an online "Ask a Librarian" feature that works well. The New England Historic Genealogical Society has an "online genealogist" who is quick to answer questions and to offer advice. Why can't ALL genealogy libraries offer something similar? Especially when they can charge for the service or else use it as a method of promoting online access to that library's books for a fee?

Food for thought...

- Dick Eastman

[Rick Breithaupt]

Among the fine genealogical libraries in the Los Angeles area is the American Heritage Library and Museum in Glendale, CA. Operated since 1893 by the Sons of the Revolution, its 30,000 volume Library is open to the public free of charge two to four days a week. It, too, has experienced the ebb and flow of patronage. The growth of Internet genealogical resources is a boon to the hobby, as is online access to books. We're finding more patrons arrive having completed some research online, and their visit is to explore the shelves (a much more difficult task online) seeking new sources, and for the opportunity to work with, or obtain assistance from, fellow patrons or experienced staff, as Duncan writes above. Another reason is to use references not available online, such as the thousands of titles we discovered were unique to our Library when working with OCLC to create and publish a catalog of holdings, also accessible through OCLC at public libraries worldwide. This has increased inquiries are requests for copies, which we are happy to provide for a reasonable fee. While the Internet is fast becoming a major thoroughfare on the genealogical journey, a library with a unique collection can still be a important stopping point along the way. When it also has a museum element, like the DAR Library, this further broadens its appeal. While it is a blessing that the wonderful collection of the NYB&G will one day again be available for use, this former member doubts it will ever be fully digitized or available online. A visit is the only way to consult unique or original works not digitized online. The challenge for those with institutional oversight responsibility is to find and balance, for their specific set of circumstances, the best way to adapt to the changing environment. The decisions made, rightly or wrongly, are as unique as the institutions, and may not portend the best solution for all. see: http://www.srcalifornia.com

[Bette Butcher Topp]

Great and deeply explained article, Dick. I think you covered all the bases and I felt it was a very educational article. I believe it is all called progress, whether we like it all or not.
Thank you -
Bette Butcher Topp

[Mike St. Clair]

Like most genealogists, I'm thrilled when I find a resource that is of value to me that has been digitized, indexed, and made available online. And I'm even more thrilled when I find that I can access this through a source that doesn't cost me. But one concern I have with this new pattern Dick has recognized of libraries going out of business because they can't financially sustain themselves has to do not with the “big” libraries, but with the very small ones.

Some of my most successful research experiences have occurred because of a visit to a very small library. When I am lucky enough to find the time and financial resources to make an actual on-site research visit, I try to make the best of it. That starts with determining:
- What records I can access online (either for free or through one of the subscription services I use)
- What records are available close at hand, such as at the Salt Lake Family History Library, or the Brigham Young University library (I live about half way in between these two)
- What records I have already searched for the locality being visited
- What archives and libraries exist within the area I am visiting

More often than not, I find much of value at the small libraries in the communities within my research target area. It's very common for these little libraries to have a small local history room, or a few shelves, or a nook, which contains some locally significant genealogical resources. It's not unusual to find there manuscript materials that exist no where else in the world that is accessible to the public. Hopefully, these small libraries (generally public in nature, but sometimes belonging to a small local society) will not find themselves in the financial hot water that some of the larger libraries have gotten into. But I have major concerns that the digitization which is becoming more common is going to totally bypass these small but valuable collections that are distributed in thousands of locations; locations that are seldom visited by the genealogist who is become more glued every day to their computer and the Internet.

[Nelda Percival]

You points are excellent. One point I'd include, public libraries destry books whose backs are broken or are falling apart. Working as a page in a Florida public library, I've seen it happen. Please see that your books are digitised. Some are so individualised there may only be one copy, to lose these would be a crime.

Would I volunteer to scan books? Yes, I could then put it on CD and send the copy back to who ever sent it.

Most of us could scan a book or two for what ever genealogical library is close to you. keep a CD and give them back the book and a CD of the book.

Nelda Percival
nelda_percival@hotmail.com

[Roger Hanneman]

I appreciate this article and commentary about the challenges facing societies and their libraries. As a board member of a genealogical society I know we are aware of the trends and difficulties that we face. Our society has been making changes to meet the needs and expectations of the public.

This commentary has given me some new ideas and increased my awareness and motivation.

Thank You.

[Linda]

Economy of scale is alive and well!

[Dino (All Dino, All The Time)]

Dick,

I can only imagine the horror of having to sit in a library surrounded by non-genealogists and vagrants.

As the nephew of a person who many would view as a vagrant, I would ask you to try to look past appearance. My uncle was a very intelligent man who chose to live in what many consider a 'bad' part of Detroit and work the mentally disadvantaged. If he was luck, he lived at the poverty level. One of his few pleasures was to go to the Wayne State UNiversity, where he graduated from, to read. He finally had to start carrying his diploma with him when he went to their library to read so they would stop trying to kick him out.

As for the situation in NY, now that the scoiety has no members, building or library, perhaps the board should take all of the remaining money and establish some sort of foundation that would grant funds to other libraries, societies and researchers who are doing work worthy of continued funding.