Please DO NOT bring your kids with you

I know you can not leave your kids by the road, or in a car, or just about anywhere else why you are doing research but PLEASE do not bring them with you to the library.  We normally do not mind kids. But, it will depend on their age.  You are the grown up, they are YOUR responsibility to take care of NOT mine. I have my own.  If you can not keep them behaved AND entertained while you are researching find some one who will watch them or come a different time.  Chances are, we will still have the things you are looking for, if you come a different day. You may also find that you can concentrate more and accomplish more if you do not bring them with you. 

Don't forget to cross the border

Was watching Hatfield's and McCoys and it got me thinking, when it comes to genealogy make sure you cross the border every once in awhile.  In the movie, the McCoy's and Hatfield's kept going across the state border. It was just a river.  

I think in genealogy we become so obsessed with where our ancestor was living that we forget that they may have crossed the border for shopping, working, etc.  If your ancestor lived near a border be sure to "cross the border" to see if they did something in a another County, State or Country.  You may find that there may be more records at another location that may help you find what you are looking for. 

Got to love the legal aspects of this job

A couple of months ago a gentlemen from the ABC board came to make sure we do not use our Moonshine still.  Now, a few ladies came in from the Commonwealths Attorney's office to make sure we don't use other donations.  I think I have dealt with more sides of the law at this job than at any other place.  Good thing we are on the same side.  :)

You just never know where you are getting called from

Today I had a gentleman call and talk to me about a brick wall he had.  He had a gentleman whom he believed was born in this county in 1837. I asked him his name and what year this gentleman was married.  He said "Hold on a sec, I have to look that up, I am in Afghanistan and the internet is kinda slow."  AFGHANISTAN!!! I asked if he was in the military and he said he used to be but now a contractor. My tone went from 'you need to talk to the researcher' to 'let me see what I can get this guy'.  He did end up having to hire our researcher but you just never know where people might be calling you from. That was a new one for me.

The Librarian is NOT your researcher

The Librarian's job is to point you to the right sources and let YOU do the research.  Just because their co-workers or others believe they are the experts in everything, does not mean that they know your family inside out and backwards.  This is probably one of my BIGGEST complaints with "Who do you think you are".  People watch that and think that there are people just setting by with all the knowledge of their family that there is to know.  The costumer has more knowledge than the librarian sometimes in family history. 

I have no problem HELPING people find their dead relatives, as a matter of fact I do it all the time.  HOWEVER, help is the key word.  There are other things that I have to do.  I do not get paid to just sit and help you.  When you leave I still have other things.  There are times that those other things have a time crunch and I can not help you as much as you would like.  If you want one on one time, it may sound silly, but call me and make an appointment and I will do everything in my power to be available to help you.  But if you show up before you said or just show up, you are taking your chances on how much I can help you.  DO NOT think that I am rude or unhelpful because you did not want to do the work your self. 

Don't forget we love to help BUT we have other things we have to do also.

As much as we would LOVE to hold your hand the whole time you are here.  We have other things we have to do as well.  The goal is to get you started and check back with you.  If we say here is this book, please don't ask 5 times where they are located.  It gets a little annoying that we have to answer the same question 5 times.  We don't mind helping, that is why we are here but please do somethings by yourself. 

Please be patient with the research place

When you ask for something from a business or library, give them time.  They may be really swamped with things.  Do not demand your items from them by a certain time.  However, that being said, if a reasonable amount of time has passed and you did not hear from them, feel free to contact them.  Normally a reasonable amount of time can be 2 weeks to a month.  You do not want them to forget about you or your research.  Please do not contact them after a week wondering where your stuff is. It is rude. Getting mad at a research place will not be a good idea.  It will leave a bad taste in their mouth to help you again, even if you did pay them money.