0
edits
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
= A Family History Research Compass = | = A Family History Research Compass = | ||
Family history research does not need to be an uncertain trek through forests of library shelves. Guidance is available, and that guidance can be prioritized and digitally available right on your own computer. Imagine a “research consultant” right at your elbow, coaching you to take the next step, and then the next. How much easier that would be! Basically, this would be a research compass directing you to the records of highest priority, and then making it possible to log your findings at the same time. I call it a “[[ | Family history research does not need to be an uncertain trek through forests of library shelves. Guidance is available, and that guidance can be prioritized and digitally available right on your own computer. Imagine a “research consultant” right at your elbow, coaching you to take the next step, and then the next. How much easier that would be! Basically, this would be a research compass directing you to the records of highest priority, and then making it possible to log your findings at the same time. I call it a “[[Strategic research logs--england|Strategic Research Log]].” But a compass is not sufficient if it only gets you to the destination—it must also get you back home, and then guide you on several return trips. That is where computerized linking is essential. | ||
<br>As researchers wade through mountains of paper, or large numbers of computer files, an organizing system becomes urgently important. All of this can be on the computer in one integrated system and be easily accessed. Using computers implement document linking technology wisely is like following a compass over a mountain trail full of twists and turns, eventually arriving safely at our destination and then returning. This makes it possible for us to do family history research in a paperless manner, creating links between electronic copies of text and image sources, a research log, an analysis table, and our choice of records management software. | <br>As researchers wade through mountains of paper, or large numbers of computer files, an organizing system becomes urgently important. All of this can be on the computer in one integrated system and be easily accessed. Using computers implement document linking technology wisely is like following a compass over a mountain trail full of twists and turns, eventually arriving safely at our destination and then returning. This makes it possible for us to do family history research in a paperless manner, creating links between electronic copies of text and image sources, a research log, an analysis table, and our choice of records management software. | ||
| Line 98: | Line 98: | ||
<br>A major key to productive family history research is to become organized in advance of launching a research project, however small. Digital computers make it possible to do this in a superb way. Careful backups and regular printouts of key documents are also necessary to preserve these vital records. Digital files can be shared more readily, however, particularly by posting them on the Internet. Family members can then benefit from your provident organization efforts. | <br>A major key to productive family history research is to become organized in advance of launching a research project, however small. Digital computers make it possible to do this in a superb way. Careful backups and regular printouts of key documents are also necessary to preserve these vital records. Digital files can be shared more readily, however, particularly by posting them on the Internet. Family members can then benefit from your provident organization efforts. | ||
<br>Anyone interested in developing a menu system such as I did for England research, with prioritized search strategies, could do it for another country or an area of the United States. The prioritized lists of sources for other countries are available at FamilySearch.org under "Research Guidance." I hope this will stimulate interest in digital linking and organization, for it has been very beneficial to me in my research.<br> | <br>Anyone interested in developing a menu system such as I did for England research, with prioritized search strategies, could do it for another country or an area of the United States. The prioritized lists of sources for other countries are available at FamilySearch.org under "Research Guidance." I hope this will stimulate interest in digital linking and organization, for it has been very beneficial to me in my research.<br><!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | ||
<!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | <!-- Tidy found serious XHTML errors --> | ||
[[Category:Beginners]] | [[Category:Beginners]] | ||