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| There were lots of prizes at Rootstech |
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Another item is crossed off my bucket list, or is it?
Today I spent eight hours at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and have a five hour visit planned before I fly out later tomorrow. But I am not satisfied. Did I really think that I could accomplish what I wanted to in thirteen short hours?
When I managed to visit The British Library and The Library of Congress I was satisfied after spending just an hour at these institutions snapping photos and walking around drinking in the atmosphere. My disappointment at not having more time in The Family History Library is because it is such a useful resource for my genealogy research and I will not be able to satisfy my appetite on this visit.
Like many of the attendees at the Rootstech Conference I added a few days to my trip so that I could avail myself of the facilities of the Family History Library. My friends in Australia will be wanting to know how I found the experience so I here's a PMI report.
Plus (in no particular order)
Wealth of resources for the family historian
Access is free
Majority of records in open access - no need to fill out annoying request slips and wait for delivery
Free WiFi for personal devices
Orientation film running all day
Can take bags and gear into library
Open hanging racks for coats around walls
Lockers available for those who want them
Lots of photocopiers and printers
Lots of computer terminals
Plenty of patient volunteers to help with queries
Large work areas where one can spread out
Spare power outlets for patron gadgets
Tolerance to chatting from genealogists working collaboratively
Comfortable adjustable ergomomic chairs
Notepaper and pencils supplied beside terminals
Spotlessly clean and tidy (I am suspicious of tidy libraries but in this case it is because the volunteers pounce on each book as soon as it lands on reshelving trolley)
Users can use USB flash drives on library computers
Good even lighting
Minus
Volunteers prowling around peering over users shoulders are offputting (price paid for bringing bags in?)
Volunteers with nothing to do congregating for chat sessions in public areas are distracting especially the two women that stood right behind me
Early closing on Mondays
Use of Internet Explorer Browser
Septegenarians on security at entrance not checking bags (or maybe I have an honest face)
Lack of natural light
Seems to be geared towards patrons asking for help rather then encouraging them to be independent learners
Interesting
Opening time of 8:00 am
Volunteer demographic gives impression that library is a retirement activity for elderly LDS people
Peaceful atmosphere regulary punctuated by Oohs and Aahs as researchers find treasure
The positives in this library certainly outweigh the negatives. I wish some of our institutions in Australia would evaluate some of their archaic 19th century practices and follow the lead of the FHL. Would it hurt if patrons talked in he NLA, just create some quiet rooms and allow for collaboration and discussion the the main reading room? Why can't we use a USB flash drive in the SLNSW computerse? Why can't I take my bag into these libraries?
I now have a job on my hands convincing Mr Geniaus that I need a return visit to Salt Lake City to finish looking up the 30 A4 pages of references I compiled before leaving Australia. Wish me luck!
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| The Family History Library |
When I managed to visit The British Library and The Library of Congress I was satisfied after spending just an hour at these institutions snapping photos and walking around drinking in the atmosphere. My disappointment at not having more time in The Family History Library is because it is such a useful resource for my genealogy research and I will not be able to satisfy my appetite on this visit.
 |
| Tidy Collection of Family Histories at the FHL |
Like many of the attendees at the Rootstech Conference I added a few days to my trip so that I could avail myself of the facilities of the Family History Library. My friends in Australia will be wanting to know how I found the experience so I here's a PMI report.
Plus (in no particular order)
Wealth of resources for the family historian
Access is free
Majority of records in open access - no need to fill out annoying request slips and wait for delivery
Free WiFi for personal devices
Orientation film running all day
Can take bags and gear into library
Open hanging racks for coats around walls
Lockers available for those who want them
Lots of photocopiers and printers
Lots of computer terminals
Plenty of patient volunteers to help with queries
Large work areas where one can spread out
Spare power outlets for patron gadgets
Tolerance to chatting from genealogists working collaboratively
Comfortable adjustable ergomomic chairs
Notepaper and pencils supplied beside terminals
Spotlessly clean and tidy (I am suspicious of tidy libraries but in this case it is because the volunteers pounce on each book as soon as it lands on reshelving trolley)
Users can use USB flash drives on library computers
Good even lighting
Minus
Volunteers prowling around peering over users shoulders are offputting (price paid for bringing bags in?)
Volunteers with nothing to do congregating for chat sessions in public areas are distracting especially the two women that stood right behind me
Early closing on Mondays
Use of Internet Explorer Browser
Septegenarians on security at entrance not checking bags (or maybe I have an honest face)
Lack of natural light
Seems to be geared towards patrons asking for help rather then encouraging them to be independent learners
Interesting
Opening time of 8:00 am
Volunteer demographic gives impression that library is a retirement activity for elderly LDS people
Peaceful atmosphere regulary punctuated by Oohs and Aahs as researchers find treasure
 |
| Entrance Foyer at the FHL |
The positives in this library certainly outweigh the negatives. I wish some of our institutions in Australia would evaluate some of their archaic 19th century practices and follow the lead of the FHL. Would it hurt if patrons talked in he NLA, just create some quiet rooms and allow for collaboration and discussion the the main reading room? Why can't we use a USB flash drive in the SLNSW computerse? Why can't I take my bag into these libraries?
 |
| The FHL was crowded for the WDYTYA Party on Friday |
Monday, February 14, 2011
Dinner with Dick
Genealogist, Dick Eastman, has been organising genealogy dinners for 22 years. He said that last night's dinner after the closing session of the Rootstech Conference had the largest attendance and was the easiest to organise. It was also more formal than the other dinners. Previous attendees agreed that it was the best ever.
It was formal in that there was an organised activity but it certainly wasn't stuffy, it was a great deal of fun. Held in a banquet room at The Radisson Hotel right next door to the Salt Palace Convention Center it was very convenient especially for those of us who were resident there. It was an international group that gathered to celebrate the end of a very successful conference. There was an Israeli, two Kiwis, two Aussies, a couple of Scots, some Poms, a couple of Canadians and lots of Americans. Although the conference had been going for three days we had an opportunity to meet even more new people in the relaxed atmosphere at the dinner. It was there that I discovered the identity of the other Aussie at Rootstech, it was Professional Genealogist, Allan Murrin, from Joy Murrin Family History Services in Sydney,
After a buffet dinner it was down to business. Sandwiched between a Scot and a Kiwi I had great difficulty cheating in the formal activity of the evening, Genealogy Jeopardy, hosted by Kory Meyerink. I wasn't able copy my neighbours' answers as we were rather a cluless trio with the majority of the questions having a strong North American bias. Never the less we had lots of laughs and learnt about some foreign resources. This was an excellent after dinner activity that I can recommend to genealogy organisations. Instructions on how to make a powerpoint to use in the activity can be found here.
Prizes were awarded to those with the highest scores in the game, Dick also handed out some lucky door prizes. The gentleman who won an iPad, the main prize in the draw was the envy of many attendees.
Unfortunately I neglected to take photos of this evening so have to rely on my memory for images.
Thanks, Dick, for organising this event that gave us an opportunity to engage in discourse about the conference, have fun and meet more new people.
It was formal in that there was an organised activity but it certainly wasn't stuffy, it was a great deal of fun. Held in a banquet room at The Radisson Hotel right next door to the Salt Palace Convention Center it was very convenient especially for those of us who were resident there. It was an international group that gathered to celebrate the end of a very successful conference. There was an Israeli, two Kiwis, two Aussies, a couple of Scots, some Poms, a couple of Canadians and lots of Americans. Although the conference had been going for three days we had an opportunity to meet even more new people in the relaxed atmosphere at the dinner. It was there that I discovered the identity of the other Aussie at Rootstech, it was Professional Genealogist, Allan Murrin, from Joy Murrin Family History Services in Sydney,
Prizes were awarded to those with the highest scores in the game, Dick also handed out some lucky door prizes. The gentleman who won an iPad, the main prize in the draw was the envy of many attendees.
Unfortunately I neglected to take photos of this evening so have to rely on my memory for images.
Thanks, Dick, for organising this event that gave us an opportunity to engage in discourse about the conference, have fun and meet more new people.
Tenor Number 13
During a conversation at a Rootstech dinner at The Roof Restaurant I mentioned to someone that I had heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a visit to Salt Lake City many years ago. I was immediately introduced to Shipley Munson who is Tenor Number 13 in the choir.
On meeting Shipley I behaved like a young teenage rock music fan. I was entranced as he related a few anecdotes about life in the choir and told me of the program for Sunday 13th February, the day prior to Valentine's Day. I indicated that I would be along to see the group on Sunday morning. I was impressed by Shipley's enthusiasm for his voluntary work in the choir. As the Global Marketing Director for the LDS Church's Family History Department I imagine that Shipley is a fairly busy man.
I arrived at the Tabernacle in Temple Square this morning in plenty of time for the weekly broadacst of Music and the Spoken Word and took my place in the gallery. The rehearsal prior to the broadcast was in full swing so I got a taste of the music I would hear. Right on time at 9:30 am the broadcast began. I enjoyed the first two items, Exsultata Jusit and Pilgrim Song. The third Londonderry Air (or Danny Boy) played on the organ touched me as I have Irish ancestry and, co-incidentally, found a new branch of one of my Irish Families in the Family History Library at the Rootstech Night at the Library celebration.
I am fortunate that my husband consented to my spending a significant amount of money to attend the Rootstech Conference so I could follow a dream. "True and lasting Love" was the theme for the morning's message by Lloyd D Newell. After Lloyd gave his talk tears started rolling down my cheeks as I thought of my husband who can be described by these words in Lloyd's talk "I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've lived a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with my whole heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough." On the eve of Valentine's Day I thank him for demonstrating True and Lasting Love by giving me the opportunity to visit Salt Lake City.
The song that followed the message "Love is a song" didn't help me regain my composure. The final piece for the morning "Ode to Joy from Symphony no.9 by Beethoven was a fitting finale to an inspirational event. Knowing Tenor Number 13, being able to watch him sing in the choir and having been infected by his enthusiasm added to my enjoyment of the morning. Fittingly Shipley and his mates were given a standing ovation.
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| Geniaus and Shipley Munson |
I arrived at the Tabernacle in Temple Square this morning in plenty of time for the weekly broadacst of Music and the Spoken Word and took my place in the gallery. The rehearsal prior to the broadcast was in full swing so I got a taste of the music I would hear. Right on time at 9:30 am the broadcast began. I enjoyed the first two items, Exsultata Jusit and Pilgrim Song. The third Londonderry Air (or Danny Boy) played on the organ touched me as I have Irish ancestry and, co-incidentally, found a new branch of one of my Irish Families in the Family History Library at the Rootstech Night at the Library celebration.
 |
| Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square |
The song that followed the message "Love is a song" didn't help me regain my composure. The final piece for the morning "Ode to Joy from Symphony no.9 by Beethoven was a fitting finale to an inspirational event. Knowing Tenor Number 13, being able to watch him sing in the choir and having been infected by his enthusiasm added to my enjoyment of the morning. Fittingly Shipley and his mates were given a standing ovation.
 |
| Outside the Tabernacle this morning |
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