APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2004-12 > 1101918759


From: "Ken Aitken" <>
Subject: Anything good to say about the FHL collections and staff?
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 10:32:41 -0600
In-Reply-To: <1101916136.41ade7e8ac4d8@webmail.xmission.com>


Jane, you wrote,
"As President of the SLC APG I've been wondering for some time now, just
what
the general concensus is concerning the FHL and those of us who work out of
this Library. Is there nothing good that can be said?"

I am sorry you have felt disappointed in peoples' grumblings. I'm sorry too
that when I began to tire of the SAMPUBCO thread, I stopped reading them
and missed the offending comments.

In the 21 years I have been a genealogy and local history librarian I have
learned that no library or archive is perfect, complete or even near that
state. Therefore it does not bother me immensely that folks grumble. In the
areas I can control, I make an effort to address the issues, and in the
others I don't worrry.

Yes, the people in the GSU and FHL are as imperfect as I am and make flawed
decisions about the inclusion of things to be microfilmed, to be purchased
and to be added to the FHL collections. And like me, they have staff (or in
your case, staff and volunteers) who unfortunately do not know everything
about everything in their bailiwick. So, what else is new?

I am most grateful that the FHL has an excellant collection of British
records I have not yet in 25 years plumbed the depths of. Its wonderful. Its
far from complete. I do not have to rely on hiring another professional to
examine all the records records on site in Canterbury or Glasgow or
Manchester, much can be done in my local FHC or on my trips to SLC to use
the library. I could say that about many areas of interest for my personal
and my clients' research needs.

I am grateful for the cheerful, positive helping attitude of all those who
work in the FHL. I have come to know many of the professionals who work
there and find them knowledgeable and competent. And though I do get
impatient with the volunteer staff from time to time because they fail to
grasp what I am talking about, I have realized that as a professional
genealogist, the things that take me to the reference desk, are not as
simple as those questions most people ask about. I learn to simplify or ask
for the professional.

Yet at the same time, I can understand, though not condone, those who judge
all by the actions, thoughts, absence of thoughts of a few. It is easy to
generalize. We find it easier to adjust to things when we can generalize
them-- mental filing is quick and easy. I try to guard against accepting
generalizations without substantiation.

My Dad (Happy Birthday Slim!) taught almost his whole adult life in his
simple way, "Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe". There is a
lot of flotsum and jetsum in the stream. Listen to my Slim Aitken,Jane, get
your own canoe, and learn to navigate through.

Be grateful you know the FHL will be there next year

Kenneth G. Aitken
Prairie History Librarian
Regina Public Library
Regina, Saskatchewan Canada


This thread: