[Publib] Biographical files

[Nann Blaine Hilyard]

None of the libraries where I've worked has done such a biographical
project.
 
I'm reminded of the "biographical encyclopedias" prevalent at the
turn-of-the-last-century.  They were large volumes with biographical
paragraphs of "eminent citizens" of a particular state (or county, or
big city).   Sometimes portaits were included.  They were almost never
indexed, nor were the entries in alphabetical order, so finding anyone
was a challenge.  A volunteer at my library in Texas started a last-name
index to the three-volume set that library had; I don't know if she ever
finished it (I left in 1979).  I would think that volunteers from other
local historical or genealogical societies would have done the same, and
that some would have done them as searchable databass . . .
 
Nowadays, Wikipedia is very handy for getting at least introductory info
on just about anything or anyone.
 
Nann
@the library in Zion, Illinois 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jean-F. Barbe
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:06 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Biographical files


I would like to know if some libraries have created biographical files
about individuals, known, less known or not known at all. Those
biographical files could have been created due to the absence of
relevant published information.
 
The probabilities that libraries could create biographical files and
make them available through the Internet may be less prevalent in big
markets (such as the U.S.) for printed and online biographical databases
than in smaller national markets.
 
Argus, a publication edited by the Corporation of Professional
Librarians of Quebec could publish an article about this subject.
 
Thank you for your attention.
 
Jean-Francois Barbe
Librarian
Editor-in-Chief 
Argus
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