I have a passion (so to speak) for local history, and for ages I've been been concerned that the great content on our Lunauweb database is difficult for our customers to access because (for various reasons which I won't go into - long story) it is not Internet-accessible. Now that I am discovering the power of blogging (better late than never), I think local history blogs could be a good way to expose the content of Lunauweb to our community, and improve public access to heritage information (a strat plan objective). As a starting point, and to tie into upcoming Heritage Week, I have created a Markham Village blog using the postcard images from Lunauweb -
http://markhamvillage-postcardviews.blogspot.com/
much easier and quicker than developing digital exhibit webpages. In the posts, I have provided some info/background about the images, but I have also invited the community to post comments. Easy 2.0.
I am also providing links to this blog and to other local history content on our website (The Markham Story, etc.) on Wikipedia.
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4 comments:
HI caffelatte:
so about the geneology and local history.
I've had a few people coming in for family history -looking for clippings, obits, newspaper archives. The lunau web is extremely user-unfriendly. I've not once found anything of use.
Now that the Paper of Record has dropped the markham Sun from its archives - we have very little to offer.
Also reports from customers is that the Museum is very difficult to work with on this matter. moreover, when people come in they're often visiting from far away and are tired of driving all over Markham looking for info.
I think we do need to get something more robust in the local history dept. People assume the library is the expert in this area - but it always makes me feel like an amateur.
bye for now
I know, it's pitiful. At this point, Richmond Hill is probably their best bet. If and when we get ancestry.com we would at least have something to offer.
Lunauweb as it stands now has some good content on local history, but isn't much use for genealogical research, and I agree the interface is not good.
I will contact the Museum re the customer experience you report.
Meg,
Another resource worth mentioning to customers is the North York Central Library. They have a great local history collection. People from Richmond Hill would run down there.
Just sharing, as well, I had a customer who was on Ancestry.com for a free two week trial.
Catherine G.
Just to close the loop on this (I have also emailed this) - Marie Jones at the Museum advises that the Museum is delighted to assist customers that we send to them for access to the E&S. However, please be aware:
The Museum’s Research Facility is open Mon. – Fri. from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Customers must call first and book an appointment with Jennifer Shaw the Collections Assistant. (The Museum is a very small facility and can only accommodate a few people at a time). The Museum number is 905 294-4576. If the customers are from out of town the Museum will try to accommodate them on the day of their visit.
The customers should communicate to the Museum that they are coming from the library – the Museum will then not charge them a fee.
The Museum does not have a complete archive of the E&S ion microfilm. These are their microfilm holdings:
- Markham Economist – July 1856 – Dec. 1943
- Markham Sun- Nov. 1888 – April 1910
- Markham Economist and Sun- Jan. 1947- March 1988
- Census- 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1901, 1911
When referring customers to the Museum, please make sure that customers understand the above.
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