Periodical Source Index (PERSI): Difference between revisions

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 [[Allen County Public Library|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.  

In 1997, the last year for which an annual print volume was produced, PERSI was made available as an online database at [http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com]. PERSI is now regularly updated and fully searchable at both [http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index HeritageQuestOnline.com] and Ancestry.com, although updates to the Ancestry version of the database are sometimes delayed. Under the auspices of the ACPL Foundation, the project currently employs a staff of eight, including a full-time supervisor and assistant supervisor, as well as part-time encoders (indexers), editors, and request fulfillment personnel.  

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>  

 

 

 

Once a search has been performed, up to a thousand citations will appear on the “Article Results List” in increments of fifty citations at a time. Article title, periodical title, publishing location, date, volume, and issue number are provided. Clicking on the article title will yield the full citation on an “Article Details” page that will also include all surnames and subjects under which the specific article can be found in PERSI. Clicking on the periodical title on this “Details” page will provide additional information, which is described in the Periodicals search section above.  

Since PERSI is created at the Allen County Public Library, the Genealogy Center has a copy of every periodical issue covered by the index. Periodicals are bound into volumes and cataloged, usually acquiring a location-based call number, but occasionally one assigned to an ethnic group or other subject focus. This puts bound periodicals on the shelves beside other books on the same subject, making it easy to find many of them simply by browsing the shelves. For example, periodicals published by a particular county historical society will be on the shelf with other books about that county. The call number and location of books on any county can be readily determined by referring to the Genealogy Center’s stack guide. The call number for any periodical title can also be identified, even in advance of a research visit, by checking the library's [http://webcat.acpl.lib.in.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/GhlqwPpTr5/MAIN/236680513/60/1180/X catalog online] at the [http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/index.html library’s website]. A few keywords from the periodical title entered into the box next to “magazines” on the advanced search screen will usually find what you want. Periodical issues that are not yet bound are filed in alphabetical order in cardboard boxes along the east wall of the Eastern Reading Room. If a periodical title cannot be located in the catalog, or if a specific issue cannot be found on the shelf, please contact a staff member for assistance.  

The ACPL Foundation offers an article copying service for those unable to visit or access the periodicals elsewhere. To use this service, print an [http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/ArticleFulfillment.pdf Article Request Form] available on the Genealogy Center's webpage. 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.