Comments on: My Genealogy Is Rooted In Books

By: Open Thread Thursday: Do We Eat Our Own In The Genealogy Industry? | GeneaBloggers

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:00:07 +0000

[...] the genealogy community’s reaction to the recent RootsTech attempt to exclude book vendors and other genealogy vendors from its exhibit hall, do you feel we’re too critical of the [...]

By: Nancy & Biff Barnes

Nancy & Biff Barnes — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:01:30 +0000

Thomas,
We want to thank you for your quick action in sounding the alarm about RootsTech’s decision not to allow books, book related products or services in the exhibit hall. When highly respected and influential bloggers like you speak, people listen, and more importantly feel empowered to speak out themselves. It was wonderful to see that we as rejected exhibitors didn’t have to plead our case alone. Today we heard from Gordon Clarke and Stories To Tell will be exhibiting at RootsTech after all. It wouldn’t have happened without you and all of our fellow Geneabloggers who spoke out. The lesson in the power of social media you’ve taught us all is an important one.
Thanks, and best wishes,
Nancy and Biff Barnes

By: Chris Whitten

Chris Whitten — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:41:39 +0000

It reminds me of the recent NetFlix blunder, i.e. trying to separate out the business of streaming online video and mailed DVDs.

By: Larry Pepper

Larry Pepper — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:44:47 +0000

I wonder how Family Search would “feel” if the tables were reversed and they were dis-invited to a major conference? I can understand limited vendor space and trying to have a diverse representation of vendors, but what was done in this instance sounds like a very poor decision from management.
What little I have heard of this issue from the emotional responses sounds like it is being enlarged to a general snubbing of books in general which I doubt is accurate. I think that exclusion of any area or field of genealogy is unwise in a general forum. Now, Rootstech is not a general forum, it is a focused arena of genealogy. It is their party and they get to make their own rules; and “we” the genealogy community get to decide if we want to attend their party. I encourage people to give the gift of feed-back and not be bought off with some weak apology or $2 off coupon at the Latte bar.

By: Kalé Liam Hobbes

Kalé Liam Hobbes — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:33:49 +0000

Hello, Thomas, well said, indeed!
Two things Rootstech forgot to consider were:
[1] There are researchers in their late 40s with almost 40years experience in the hobby (I started at age 9); and for the last — what? 15-20 years or so, technology has played an important part in the gathering, organizing, writing, reviewing and publishing of our genealogy notes, but I still depend on paper, it’s my last chance back-up format; and,
[2] Until every paper map, book, issue and volume of historical and genealogical importance becomes available in PDF or online formats, paper will be a research staple of many genealogist over the age of 40.
My three sons (20, 18 and 15yrs old) shy away from libraries and the dusty “artifacts” contained therein, but like moths to a flame they hone in on internet capable computers, WIFI for their cellphones, etc and help with my research — using their accustomed methods.
Rootstech perhaps focused in on the age group of my sons and forgot about the most financially powerful group of consumers completely: us, the baby-boomers and Gen X.
Rootstech did not think this through very well, and like a poorly played chess game, their chances of pulling off a win now, is becoming less possible as time progresses. I stress the word possible, they could do it — and It will be interesting to observe their next move … check mate?

By: Jackie

Jackie — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:34:51 +0000

I completely agree with the blog posting. If I was still deciding whether or not to attend it wouldn’t be that hard of a decision now, I wouldn’t. I’ve been reading books since I was very young and learned to read by myself. I went through grammar school learning with BOOKS, I have a collection of childrens’ series books that I treasure. I also have a collection of genealogy books that I have collected since I started my research in 1991, BEFORE the Internet. Books have always been a part of my life and until every single library in this world no longer exists or I don’t I will continue to use book not only for my genealogy research but because I have always had a LOVE of reading.

By: Tina Lyons

Tina Lyons — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:11:58 +0000

The way the courted some vendors and then told them they were not invited less than 2 months before the conference is more of a problem to me than not allowing book vendors. It makes it sound like they were waiting to see if they could get “better” vendors (in their view) and then dumping the ones they didn’t like as much. They have the right to choose who is in the vendors hall, but they should have done it in a professional and timely manner.

By: Carolyn Rutherford

Carolyn Rutherford — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:33:59 +0000

I’m a 40+yr Gen-Researcher, and a Technology Marketer for IBM, so I’ve been trying to justify the time off, the travel and expense to attend the 2012 conference. In years past I wanted to go but couldn’t afford to even think of it. I’m also an avid book collector, reader and supporter of all things literary, in print and online. This decision by Rootstech has now made my decision easier. I will NOT ATTEND. Books encourage literacy, historical archivery, and genealogy would and could not be done without them. Shame on Rootstech2012!