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FamilySearch Wiki talk:WikiProject Professional Genealogists: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Wiki talk:WikiProject Professional Genealogists (view source)
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Many directories of professional genealogists exist, but most charge fees for a listing, so none of them really approach comprehensiveness. A directory on FamilySearch Wiki, where researchers can write their own listings for free, has the potential of becoming comprehensive. To patrons who need professional help, the wiki could become the best place to find a complete listing of professional researchers. | Many directories of professional genealogists exist, but most charge fees for a listing, so none of them really approach comprehensiveness. A directory on FamilySearch Wiki, where researchers can write their own listings for free, has the potential of becoming comprehensive. To patrons who need professional help, the wiki could become the best place to find a complete listing of professional researchers. | ||
== What will the pages look like? == | == What will the pages look like? == | ||
=== Inclusive information === | === Inclusive information === | ||
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Part of the thinking around having this information on user pages is that user pages are not included by default on the wiki's search engine. When you do a search on the wiki, the search engine ignores user pages by default. So user pages are a great place to "hide in plain sight." When wiki users add information to their user pages, they are not spamming the wiki's search engine. | Part of the thinking around having this information on user pages is that user pages are not included by default on the wiki's search engine. When you do a search on the wiki, the search engine ignores user pages by default. So user pages are a great place to "hide in plain sight." When wiki users add information to their user pages, they are not spamming the wiki's search engine. | ||
Besides these resume items on a professional genealogist's user page, there would be directory pages like | Besides these resume items on a professional genealogist's user page, there would be directory pages like [[Professional Genealogists Who Specialize in Ohio Research|Professional Genealogists Who Specialize in Ohio Research]] which would contain a table listing professionals and linking to their user pages for more information. These directory pages would be normal wiki pages in the main namespace, and would therefore appear by default on a wiki search. This is ideal because it would help patrons find professionals when they need help. | ||
=== Links from other pages to directories === | === Links from other pages to directories === | ||
To make it even easier for patrons to find professional help, links to these directory pages would be created from other existing wiki pages. So a page like | To make it even easier for patrons to find professional help, links to these directory pages would be created from other existing wiki pages. So a page like [[Ohio_Vital_Records|Ohio Vital Records]] would contain a link to [[Professional_Genealogists_Who_Specialize_in_Ohio_Research|Professional Genealogists Who Specialize in Ohio Research]]. The link's wording might be something like "For a list of professional genealogists who can procure vital records, see [[Professional_Genealogists_Who_Specialize_in_Ohio_Research|Professional Genealogists Who Specialize in Ohio Research]]." | ||
== Isn't this awfully commercial for a wiki? == | == Isn't this awfully commercial for a wiki? == | ||
Some folks worry about linking wiki pages to professional genealogists. But the wiki already has thousands of links to commercial offerings -- most of them digitized records available for a fee. Professional genealogists provide the same kinds of information these fee-based digital record sites do -- they just do it in a more customized way. If genealogy were the food industry, the big companies that offer digital records might be likened to a McDonald's or a Stauffer's, whereas the professional researcher might be a mom-and-pop restaurant. If the wiki's Ohio Vital Records page can link to a Website of a company offering digitized records for a fee, why should it not also link to Websites of professionals offering to find similar records for a fee? | Some folks worry about linking wiki pages to professional genealogists. But the wiki already has thousands of links to commercial offerings -- most of them digitized records available for a fee. Professional genealogists provide the same kinds of information these fee-based digital record sites do -- they just do it in a more customized way. If genealogy were the food industry, the big companies that offer digital records might be likened to a McDonald's or a Stauffer's, whereas the professional researcher might be a mom-and-pop restaurant. If the wiki's Ohio Vital Records page can link to a Website of a company offering digitized records for a fee, why should it not also link to Websites of professionals offering to find similar records for a fee? | ||
=== Your input is welcome below === | === Your input is welcome below === | ||