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FamilySearch Wiki:Introduction: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Wiki:Introduction (view source)
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:''Most of this information was presented at the BYU Computerized Genealogy conference in March 2008 | :''Most of this information was presented at the BYU Computerized Genealogy conference in March 2008. | ||
People seeking research advice have to search many sources to find it. FamilySearch Wiki is a Website where the community can write and update research advice for any locality. Here's an overview of our vision and an invitation to join us. | People seeking research advice have to search many sources to find it. FamilySearch Wiki is a Website where the community can write and update research advice for any locality. Here's an overview of our vision and an invitation to join us. | ||
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On Wikipedia, the most active 2% of users contribute roughly 75% of the edits.<sup>1</sup> One person can make a huge difference, and other users need your knowledge! Adding content is easy – a significant portion of our content is added by senior citizens who have little computer experience. They can do it because it’s simple: Using the site’s editing tool is much like using Microsoft Word or Wordpad. Give it a try! | On Wikipedia, the most active 2% of users contribute roughly 75% of the edits.<sup>1</sup> One person can make a huge difference, and other users need your knowledge! Adding content is easy – a significant portion of our content is added by senior citizens who have little computer experience. They can do it because it’s simple: Using the site’s editing tool is much like using Microsoft Word or Wordpad. Give it a try! | ||
Probably the easiest way to contribute your knowledge is to add new information to an existing article. Find an article that deals with some type of information you’d use often, and then add to it. For instance, if you know a good Website for tombstone inscriptions in Pennsylvania, you can add the link to an existing article called Pennsylvania Cemetery Records. You can do it in only a couple minutes – it’s that simple! <!--{12057231920822} --> | Probably the easiest way to contribute your knowledge is to add new information to an existing article. Find an article that deals with some type of information you’d use often, and then add to it. For instance, if you know a good Website for tombstone inscriptions in Pennsylvania, you can add the link to an existing article called Pennsylvania Cemetery Records. You can do it in only a couple minutes – it’s that simple! <!--{12057231920822} --> | ||
== Why is FamilySearch Wiki "competing" with similar Websites?<br> == | == Why is FamilySearch Wiki "competing" with similar Websites?<br> == | ||
Some folks who hear about FamilySearch Wiki note that there are other valuable Websites which offer research advice. They ask, ''"Why are you competing with Site X? It's a good site. Why do you want to duplicate their work and dilute the efforts that are already being contributed to them?" <br>'' | Some folks who hear about FamilySearch Wiki note that there are other valuable Websites which offer research advice. They ask, ''"Why are you competing with Site X? It's a good site. Why do you want to duplicate their work and dilute the efforts that are already being contributed to them?" <br>'' | ||
==== We avoid duplication and welcome collaboration<br> ==== | ==== We avoid duplication and welcome collaboration<br> ==== | ||
Part of the answer is that we ''don't'' want to duplicate efforts. Wherever there is a site that offers current, clear, well-organized content that our customers value, our goal is to link to those sites from the wiki and drive customers to them. That said, some sites have great information for one area and obsolete information for another. Other sites have great navigation in one area, and confusing navigation in another. In these cases, we may choose to....<br> | Part of the answer is that we ''don't'' want to duplicate efforts. Wherever there is a site that offers current, clear, well-organized content that our customers value, our goal is to link to those sites from the wiki and drive customers to them. That said, some sites have great information for one area and obsolete information for another. Other sites have great navigation in one area, and confusing navigation in another. In these cases, we may choose to....<br> | ||
*partner with the other organization to help them revise their content;<br> | *partner with the other organization to help them revise their content;<br> | ||
*link to the other site's quality content but not to their obsolete content;<br> | *link to the other site's quality content but not to their obsolete content;<br> | ||
*create similar content for the area in question in a language not covered by the original site. <br> | *create similar content for the area in question in a language not covered by the original site. <br> | ||
We welcome like-minded organizations to contact us if they'd like to collaborate. Such partnerships will more rapidly produce the information genealogists need. <br> | We welcome like-minded organizations to contact us if they'd like to collaborate. Such partnerships will more rapidly produce the information genealogists need. <br> | ||
==== This content isn't new -- only the medium is<br> ==== | ==== This content isn't new -- only the medium is<br> ==== | ||
Another way to consider FamilySearch's "new entry" into this market is that FamilySearch isn't new to this domain at all. Our organization has provided research guidance to patrons since 1894 when we were known as the [http://www.gensocietyofutah.org/ Genealogical Society of Utah]. We've always striven to do our best to deliver "one-stop shopping" for genealogical advice. During the 100+ years of our existence, we've constantly worked to improve the media we use to deliver that advice, including a few major media changes in the last 15 years. In the 1980s, we published research advice on paper. In 1998, we switched to CD-ROM. In 1999, we switched to html. In 2008, in order to make the work collaborative and scalable, we switched to the wiki medium. <br> | Another way to consider FamilySearch's "new entry" into this market is that FamilySearch isn't new to this domain at all. Our organization has provided research guidance to patrons since 1894 when we were known as the [http://www.gensocietyofutah.org/ Genealogical Society of Utah]. We've always striven to do our best to deliver "one-stop shopping" for genealogical advice. During the 100+ years of our existence, we've constantly worked to improve the media we use to deliver that advice, including a few major media changes in the last 15 years. In the 1980s, we published research advice on paper. In 1998, we switched to CD-ROM. In 1999, we switched to html. In 2008, in order to make the work collaborative and scalable, we switched to the wiki medium. <br> | ||
When you consider the organizations who offer genealogical research advice, then, FamilySearch is a relatively ancient player. And like any other service organization or publisher, we periodically swap out strategies and media to better serve our customers. Even the information we used to seed the wiki isn't new to the field. We published it on paper in 1997, on CD-ROMs in 1998, in html on the Web in 1999, and in Wiki code in 2008. The content we used to populate each medium was basically the same -- we just updated it as we went along. <br> | When you consider the organizations who offer genealogical research advice, then, FamilySearch is a relatively ancient player. And like any other service organization or publisher, we periodically swap out strategies and media to better serve our customers. Even the information we used to seed the wiki isn't new to the field. We published it on paper in 1997, on CD-ROMs in 1998, in html on the Web in 1999, and in Wiki code in 2008. The content we used to populate each medium was basically the same -- we just updated it as we went along. <br> | ||
== Subjects outside the wiki’s scope == | == Subjects outside the wiki’s scope == | ||
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Another type of content that is not for the FamilySearch Research Wiki is that which focuses on how to use FamilySearch products like Ancestral File, IGI, or Pedigree Resource File. Such information can be found in the [http://help.familysearch.org FamilySearch Help Center]. | Another type of content that is not for the FamilySearch Research Wiki is that which focuses on how to use FamilySearch products like Ancestral File, IGI, or Pedigree Resource File. Such information can be found in the [http://help.familysearch.org FamilySearch Help Center]. | ||
Family history centers may add a page to the wiki that describes the services provided at the center, hours of operation. If a family history center has specific research aides for a specific locale then it can be mentioned in an article about that locale. See the [[Riverton FamilySearch Library]] and the [[Family History Library]] page as example pages for family history centers. (Please refer to the [http://forums.familysearch.org/en/showthread.php?t=2727 Forum discussion thread] concerning the change in this guideline concerning family history centers.) | Family history centers may add a page to the wiki that describes the services provided at the center, hours of operation. If a family history center has specific research aides for a specific locale then it can be mentioned in an article about that locale. See the [[Riverton FamilySearch Library]] and the [[Family History Library]] page as example pages for family history centers. (Please refer to the [http://forums.familysearch.org/en/showthread.php?t=2727 Forum discussion thread] concerning the change in this guideline concerning family history centers.) | ||
== LDS folks: serve a mission in your pajamas == | == LDS folks: serve a mission in your pajamas == | ||
Although people of many faiths are contributing to this site, there is a unique opportunity for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Want to serve a part-time or full-time mission? Hate suits, skirts, stockings, or schedules? We need experienced genealogists who can contribute useful information to the wiki. Some of our best contributors serve from home in their spare time. If this sounds like the kind of mission you could really enjoy, send an e-mail to Family History Research Support: [mailto:fhl@familysearch.org fhl@familysearch.org]. <!--{12057231920823} --> | Although people of many faiths are contributing to this site, there is a unique opportunity for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Want to serve a part-time or full-time mission? Hate suits, skirts, stockings, or schedules? We need experienced genealogists who can contribute useful information to the wiki. Some of our best contributors serve from home in their spare time. If this sounds like the kind of mission you could really enjoy, send an e-mail to Family History Research Support: [mailto:fhl@familysearch.org fhl@familysearch.org]. <!--{12057231920823} --> | ||
== You can make a big difference! == | == You can make a big difference! == | ||
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[[Retirement of Research Outlines|Retirement of Research Outlines]] | [[Retirement of Research Outlines|Retirement of Research Outlines]] | ||
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== References == | |||
== References == | |||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:FamilySearch_Wiki]] | [[Category:FamilySearch_Wiki]] | ||