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Periodical Source Index (PERSI): Difference between revisions
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== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world. Created by the staff of the Allen County Public Library Foundation and the ACPL’s Genealogy Center, PERSI is widely recognized as a vital tool for genealogical researchers. PERSI indexes articles in 11,000 periodical titles (including 3,000 defunct titles) published by thousands of local, state, national and international societies and organizations, arranging 2.25 million entries by surname or location and 22 basic subject headings. An important tool for genealogists looking for new avenues of investigation, PERSI’s usefulness is not limited to family history researchers. Local historians and academics, archaeologists and demographers, as well as students from elementary to graduate school and beyond, will all find PERSI an important asset in their research. | The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI, is the largest subject index to genealogy and local history periodical articles in the world.<ref name="ACPL">"Ask a Genealogy Librarian" Service, Historical Genealogy Department, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010.</ref> Created by the staff of the Allen County Public Library Foundation and the ACPL’s Genealogy Center, PERSI is widely recognized as a vital tool for genealogical researchers. PERSI indexes articles in 11,000 periodical titles (including 3,000 defunct titles) published by thousands of local, state, national and international societies and organizations, arranging 2.25 million entries by surname or location and 22 basic subject headings. An important tool for genealogists looking for new avenues of investigation, PERSI’s usefulness is not limited to family history researchers. Local historians and academics, archaeologists and demographers, as well as students from elementary to graduate school and beyond, will all find PERSI an important asset in their research. | ||
The PERSI project began in 1986 with efforts directed at indexing both “current” issues, to be published in annual volumes, and “retrospective” issues, to be published in a 16 volume set covering 1847-1985. The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] made the 16 volume set available on microfiche for its branches, but the print volumes provided the principal access for researchers until Ancestry began to briefly issue CDs containing the entire retro set, all annual volumes, plus additional pre-1986 material. | The PERSI project began in 1986 with efforts directed at indexing both “current” issues, to be published in annual volumes, and “retrospective” issues, to be published in a 16 volume set covering 1847-1985. The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] made the 16 volume set available on microfiche for its branches, but the print volumes provided the principal access for researchers until Ancestry began to briefly issue CDs containing the entire retro set, all annual volumes, plus additional pre-1986 material. | ||
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The How-tos selection searches thousands of citations about research methods, ranging from long, detailed articles to short tips or hints. The “Record Type” and “Keywords” options are the same as those for the Places search. | The How-tos selection searches thousands of citations about research methods, ranging from long, detailed articles to short tips or hints. The “Record Type” and “Keywords” options are the same as those for the Places search. | ||
The Periodicals search option provides access to detailed information about a specific periodical title, including publisher and address, subject focus of the periodical, the international standard serial number (ISSN), previous titles, frequency of publication, ACPL holdings, other known repositories of the title, and PERSI code. Used by project staff, PERSI codes often begin with the two letter postal abbreviation for the state of publication, thereby indicating the geographical focus of many titles. PERSI codes can also help in determining whether project staff members have established previous, current and subsequent titles of the same periodical. An ACPL call number may be provided on the “Periodical Details” page, but the call number field is often blank or says “Open,” even though almost all titles now have call numbers in the ACPL catalog. Finally, each periodical’s individual “Details” page also provides browsing access to a list of articles appearing in every issue, even through title changes. Simply click on the volume, number or date of the issue of interest. | The Periodicals search option provides access to detailed information about a specific periodical title, including publisher and address, subject focus of the periodical, the international standard serial number (ISSN), previous titles, frequency of publication, ACPL holdings, other known repositories of the title, and PERSI code. Used by project staff, PERSI codes often begin with the two letter postal abbreviation for the state of publication, thereby indicating the geographical focus of many titles. PERSI codes can also help in determining whether project staff members have established previous, current and subsequent titles of the same periodical. An ACPL call number may be provided on the “Periodical Details” page, but the call number field is often blank or says “Open,” even though almost all titles now have call numbers in the ACPL catalog. Finally, each periodical’s individual “Details” page also provides browsing access to a list of articles appearing in every issue, even through title changes. Simply click on the volume, number or date of the issue of interest. <br> | ||
== Additional Tips == | |||
Using the “Keywords” box, a search may be created with Boolean operators (and, or, and not) and with wildcard substitutions. A keyword may be truncated, with an asterisk (*) replacing any number of letters at the end of a word, while a dollar sign ($) can substitute for a single letter anywhere in a word. In addition, quotation marks (“ ”) can group words into a single phrase for searching. | |||
=== What PERSI does not index === | === What PERSI does not index === | ||
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#Surname journals and newsletters | #Surname journals and newsletters | ||
#Page numbers | #Page numbers | ||
=== Anatomy of a Citation === | === Anatomy of a Citation === | ||
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=== Article Copy Service === | === Article Copy Service === | ||
The ACPL Foundation offers an article copying service for those unable to visit or access the periodicals elsewhere. To use this service, print the Article Request Form available at <www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html>. For each article requested, include Title of Article, Title of Journal, Volume (if cited), Number (if cited), Month (if cited) and Year. A pre-paid handling fee of $7.50 (check or money order to “ACPLF”) covers up to four articles and should be sent with each form. Multiple forms may be submitted, accompanied by the appropriate handling fee (e.g. for 10 articles: $7.50 X 3 = $22.50). An additional copying fee of 20 cents per page will be billed when the copies are sent. Please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery. | The ACPL Foundation offers an article copying service for those unable to visit or access the periodicals elsewhere. To use this service, print the Article Request Form available at <www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html>. For each article requested, include Title of Article, Title of Journal, Volume (if cited), Number (if cited), Month (if cited) and Year. A pre-paid handling fee of $7.50 (check or money order to “ACPLF”) covers up to four articles and should be sent with each form. Multiple forms may be submitted, accompanied by the appropriate handling fee (e.g. for 10 articles: $7.50 X 3 = $22.50). An additional copying fee of 20 cents per page will be billed when the copies are sent. Please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery. | ||
== Access to PERSI == | == Access to PERSI == | ||