History Section Self Study Survey

RUSA History Section Self Study Survey

This year, the History Section is charged to review the section and suggest future goals. We hope to better connect with our section members, both those who are active and with those who might want more from the section. It would help us greatly if you would be willing to complete the short survey. Your information will be completely anonymous, unless your response to one of the open-ended questions self identifies you. All information will be presented to the History Section Executive Committee and the Self-Study Committee in aggregate. If you would like to have a personal contact from someone in the history section, send a message to David Murray Chair of the History Section (murrayd@tcnj.edu) or Jenny Presnell, chair of the Self-Study Committee (presnejl@miamioh.edu) outside of this survey. We truly appreciate your time and your remarks and value your candor. Thank you.

*Questions adapted with permission from WESS (Western European Studies Section) survey

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* 1. Check all that apply

I am a member of the history section

I have attended a history section program (Genealogy Pre-conference/Workshop, conference program, online webinar, discussion group, etc.)

I follow many of the history section activities and listservs, but am not active

I am not a history section member (skip question 2)

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* 2. I have been a member of the history section (check boxes by year)

Less than 5 years

5-10 years

10+ years

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* 3. I either professionally or personally identify with (check all that apply)

Genealogy

Museum

Academic Library

Public Library

Historical Society

Special Library

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* 4. I am a member of a committee and (select all that apply)

I feel included and active

I feel left out of the committee and its activities

I have never heard from my committee chair

I am a previous or current committee chair

I am not a member of a committee

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* 5. I attend Annual conference

Usually every year

Every couple of years

Seldom

Never

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* 6. Which of these activities and resources do you find useful? Select all that apply.*

History Section programs held every year at Annual

History Section Genealogy Workshop (sometimes called Pre-Conference)

History Section discussion groups held every year at ALA Midwinter and/or Annual

History Section social events (dinners, tours to museums, libraries, etc.)

History-l list serve

History Section Facebook page

History Section Twitter feed

History Section Webinars

History Section Publications (such as Best Historical Materials in RUSQ)

ALA Website for the History Section

History Section Guidelines/Resources/Awards (Guidelines: Information Literacy Guidelines for Undergraduate History Students, , Guidelines for . . . Instruction in Genealogical Research . . . Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection, Guidelines for Establishing Local History Collections; Awards: ABC_CLIO Online History Awards, Gale Cengage History Research and Innovation Award, Genealogy/History Achievement Award (ProQuest); Resources: Primary Sources on the Web)

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* 7. Would you be more likely to participate if there were more (select all that apply)

Virtual educational offerings

Virtual discussion group

Free /low cost programming

Programming that was relevant to me

Opportunities for discussion

Opportunities to present my own research

Face to face opportunities

Virtual opportunities in general

More opportunities to demonstrate my leadership abilities and potential, by being elected to a position, chairing a committee, leading a discussion, leading a work group to accomplish some project or other, etc.

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* 8. In what ways has the History Section had a role in your professional development? Select all that apply. *

Developing professional relationships with colleagues from other institutions

Forming fruitful mentor-mentee relationships with colleagues from other institutions

Discovering new resources or tools for library users or for History librarianship

Discovering new approaches or models for library services

Helping to create resources

Helped to get a promotion, merit raise, or tenure, or other recognition

No role in professional development

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* 9. Beyond the physical conference, which of the following would be of interest to you? Select all that apply.*

Podcasts of programs

Webinars/Tutorials

Blogs

Listserv discussions

Discussion group meetings held virtually

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* 10. What should the History Section be focusing on? Or more concretely, what should the History Section be doing?

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* 11. What as a member of the Section do you need to do your job? What do you need more information on? How might the History Section help address this?

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* 12. What would entice you to participate in the history section? What are obstacles are there for you? Tell us what we are doing wrong and what you need from us.

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* 1. Check all that apply

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* 2. I have been a member of the history section (check boxes by year)

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* 3. I either professionally or personally identify with (check all that apply)

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* 4. I am a member of a committee and (select all that apply)

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* 5. I attend Annual conference

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* 6. Which of these activities and resources do you find useful? Select all that apply.*

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* 7. Would you be more likely to participate if there were more (select all that apply)

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* 8. In what ways has the History Section had a role in your professional development? Select all that apply. *

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* 9. Beyond the physical conference, which of the following would be of interest to you? Select all that apply.*

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* 10. What should the History Section be focusing on? Or more concretely, what should the History Section be doing?

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* 11. What as a member of the Section do you need to do your job? What do you need more information on? How might the History Section help address this?

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* 12. What would entice you to participate in the history section? What are obstacles are there for you? Tell us what we are doing wrong and what you need from us.

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* 13. What else would you like the Section to know?