The goal is to have a name that:
- is a professional "brand" (long lasting, classic, useful to users)
- tells people who we are and what we provide clearly
- is easy to say and remember (not too long, not too short)
- is distinquishable from NCSU Libraries, UNC's Carolina Collection, and Wake County Public Libraries, since people sometimes confuse us with these entities
- is meaningful and succinct, but not pretentious (We are a library. This is not a bad thing.)
- a Research Library for information about NC - people, government, culture, history, economy, geography, etc.
- Resource & Research library for DCR
- Research library for genealogical research
- Reference library for state government agencies
- Print, microfilm, & digital collections
- Reference, periodicals, microfilm, maps, state & federal documents, monographs, online resources
- Expert reference/research librarians - specialties in NC, government, demographic & genealogy resources/information
- a physical and virtual resource
North Carolina Research (Library or Center)
North Carolina Research & Genealogy (Library or Center)
North Carolina History Research (Library or Center)
North Carolina History & Genealogy Research (Library or Center)
North Carolina Government & History Research (Library or Center)
North Carolina Government & History (Library or Center)
State History & Genealogy (Library or Center) of North Carolina
Please try out a few of the names listed above and post a comment mentioning what appeals most to you and why. If you have an idea for another name you'd prefer, please post it in a comment and with a few sentences "sell" it to your coworkers.
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25 comments:
North Carolina Government History & Genealogy Library
Tells what we have. Including "Research" in name would be good, but it adds to the length.
John Mitchell
North Carolina Research & Genealogy (Library )
I like this-it covers all we do best.
joy
Suggestions for a name:
North Carolina Library
North Carolina Research Center
North Carolina Research Library
North Carolina Knowledge Center
State of North Carolina Research Library
State History & Genealogy Center of North Carolina gets my vote.
When throwing the name around casually (or answering the phone) we'd likely leave off the "of North Carolina" part (just as we do when we refer to ourselves as the State Library instead of the State Library of North Carolina.)
"State History & Genealogy" summarizes a large portion of our focus. Either term, "center" or "library" would work. I chose "center" because it is one fewer syllables and would also include any projects we may be involved in that would extend beyond what one imagines a "library" to do.
I really can't think of anything better than just calling us the State Library of North Carolina! I think that captures what we do better than anything else would. However, if we must change, I'd prefer something short and simple, like North Carolina Research Library. Once we start listing our various functions (history, genealogy, and government information) the name either gets really long or we have to leave things out.
I also like State History & Genealogy Center of North Carolina as well. I know that this title excludes "Government", but I'm OK with this if we intend to broaden our scope and serve more than just government employees.
My ideas for the reading rooms aren't very original, but here they are:
Names for 1st floor reading room:
North Carolina History Room
North Carolina Research Room
State History Room
Names for mezz. reading room:
Genealogy Research Room
North Carolina Genealogy Room
I haven't settled on a name that I like above all others, but I did want to point out that the Special Collections Research Center at North Carolina State University contains "North Carolina," "Research," "Center," and "State," although obviously in a different combination of the words. My point is that, having sat at THAT reference desk, we get sooo many calls that are meant for THIS reference desk. Since we have an opportunity to change our name, perhaps we should keep in mind the current confusion and try to steer clear of something really close to their name, which is already established?
My two point five cents (accounting for inflation), Amy
On Christy's suggestions for the 1st floor's name--I like the "North Carolina Research" one best because it encompasses both historical research and "current government information research" kind of stuff...though of course that kind of leaves out the "reference/lending library for state employees with a bunch of employee training videos thrown in" aspect. But as Amy points out it may conflict too much with the NCSU center.
If we go with State History & Genealogy [something] of N.C., our acronym could be SHaG[something...]
Kate
The first part I will vote:
North Carolina Research & Genealogy
1. North Carolina Research & Genealogy Library: Sounds a little bit traditional.
2. North Carolina Research & Genealogy Center: Personally I like this one, but not sure if it's too common (there may be too many research centers in NC?). But it sounds special and good to be as a section.
-Jessie
North Carolina Research and Genealogy Center or Library appeals most to me. The word "State" confuses so many people. Maybe this would distinguish us more from NCSU and Wake Co.
I like the name "The North Carolina Heritage Library" as we are all about the history and culture of the residents of North Carolina.
We need a distinct title to differentiate us from North Carolina State University.
North Carolina Research and Genealogy Library is good. I think North Carolina needs to be part of the title otherwise people would think we are about generic genealogy and research.
Another brainstorm, North Carolina Cultural Resources & Genealogy Library?
I like the name NC Research and Genealogy Center, we are established in the State library, I don't think we need to add Library to the title.
Kathryn
I am torn as to the type of name we need. It sounds like you want one identity, but will there still be two separate service points on different floors and with different phone numbers?
If we are looking for an overall name because we are truly combining the service points then something like the North Caroliniana Library might be short, to the point, and sufficiently unique.
If there are still two distinctly different service points I lean more towards no overall name (other than the State Library) and names such as Christy suggested for each service point (like, NC Government Research Libary and NC Genealogy Research Library).
If we use both a "combined " name and the "individual" names I think that is too many layers (i.e., the NC Genealogy Research Library/Center/Room in the NC Research and Genealogy Library a service of the State Library).
If we go with one name and a combined service point then I suggested above the North Caroliniana Library to try to distinguish us from everyone else, but it doesn't really play up our current strength in the area of Genealogy. So I also like the North Carolina Research & Genealogy Library and the North Carolina Government Information & Genealogy Research Library (though I think the word genealogy is hard for people to spell correctly). I am not well versed on the genealogy community so I don't know if there is another term that might be as well recognized, but easier to spell (like ancestry or something) or maybe I'm just a bad speller and you should ignore me. Well, that is kind of where my head is right now. Sorry for rambling.
Jennifer R.
Just a quick remark (digression) on Jennifer's note. In another library someone did ask for the gynecology department.
I think it is true that genealogy can be difficult to spell (though maybe it wouldn't bother genealogy patrons; other staff can weigh in on that) and while I like the idea of the short-and-general "North Caroliniana Library" idea, "Caroliniananananana" is going to be hard to say on the phone!
How does Archives handle having different service points within the same building?
More on acronyms, since I find them fascinating:
State of North Carolina Research=SNCR (pronounced snicker)
State of North Carolina Research Library=SNCRL (snickerel)
State of N.C. Research Center=SNCRC (snick-rick)
I immediately thought of Research as the main focus for the name: North Carolina Research Library. We can't include everything we do, or the name would be a real mouthful, when answering the phone. Research is done on 1st and GR, both. History is not the focas it once was and considering the books we tossed, Id leave that word out.
I think Jennifer R makes a great point about the number of service points and how that may effect the name we choose.
I also like Jennifer's suggestion of North Caroliniana Library. I would change it slightly to North Caroliniana Research Center (or Library).
Jennifer D.
Another thought -- North Carolina History and Heritage Library or North Carolina History and Heritage Research Library?
We are working toward a goal of becoming one library in name and function (i.e., genealogy and first floor) and will discuss all of that at the Retreat next week so... think "whole" --
Oops -- my suggestion builds on Carla's earlier suggestion for North Carolina Heritage Library --
All good comments and suggestions by everyone -- Thanks!
Building on all the input so far,
we can be the
North Carolina Research Libraries with 2 divisions:
the North Carolina Genealogy Library and
the North Carolina Heritage and Culture Library.
I'm curious what others think; to me heritage implies / includes history so both may not be needed in the name (in the interest or keeping it short).
Actually, the comment I made earlier about history was inaccurate; we still have plenty of books dealing with history; I just wouldn't add "History" to the Library's name. Can we use initials, instead? NCGHG Library?
NCR&H Library? NCGRG Library?
I like State History & Research Library of North Carolina.
I like Michelle Cz's idea, but history and genealogy go together, it's a bit redundant. It also leaves out a portion of what we have that is non-historical and non-genealogical. Using "history" is both historical and genealogical (b/c genealogists know this is the place to go for NC genealogy, we already have that reputation). Using research could be genealogical, historical, or just general research that is not related to history or genealogy.
I think we should/need to keep "Library" in the name to help illustrate the fact that professionals work here. There are a lot of "centers" all over, but professionals don't necessarily work there or the ones who do are not necessarily of the same profession (as far as degrees go at least). And as Amy said, we need to keep the name different enough not to be confused with NCSU special collections, which is their "research center", but I think "research" is needed in the title, whatever title, we go with as that is a major function of this library.
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