The Genealogy Search

The challenge for Week 48 is to examine online tools for cataloging your personal genealogy library and keeping track of the books you read.  I am a fan of LibraryThing ( http://www.librarything.co m/ ).  It is a site where you can catalog and provide tags in your personal library.  I have been using librarything for about three years and even purchased the cat ISBN reader that plugs into your computer and scans the ISBN number eliminating the need to physically enter the information.  The cat does not always work but when it does it makes it a breeze to catalog books.  I use librarything  to print out a listing of genealogy books I already own prior to going to genealogical conferences.  I check my list prior to purchasing new books - yes I have a habit of forgetting what I already own.  Currently I have 225 books in my personal library, I also have a copy of my inventory in the safe just in case I need it for insurance purposes.  Libraryth...

The challenge Week 44: Research ways to give back to the genealogy community. The challenge is to examine some different ways genealogists can donate time and effort in kind. Find-a-Grave ( http://www.findagrave.com/ ), Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness ( http://www.raogk.org/ ), FamilySearch Indexing ( http://www.familysearch.or g/eng/indexing/framese t_indexing.asp ), the World Archives Project ( http://landing.ancestry.co m/wap/learnmore.aspx ), Unclaimed Persons ( http://www.unclaimedperson s.org/ ) and the USGenWeb project ( http://www.usgenweb.org/ ) are all dependent on volunteer effort.   I have worked worked with  Unclaimed persons, Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness and Record A Grave organized by Jon Anderson.  John posts cemetery transcriptions that we volunteers transcribe to   ancestry.com ,   findagrave.com , and  interment.net .  I really enjoy working with him.  I have volunteered for RAOGK, however I have a sour taste ...

Use a different search engine for your online genealogy research. Google is quite popular, but other search engines may provide different results. Try Yahoo! Search ( http://search.yahoo.com/ ), Bing ( http://www.bing.com/ ), Ask.com ( http://www.ask.com/ ), Dogpile ( http://www.dogpile.com/ ), and even Clusty ( http://clusty.com/ ). Pick an unusual surname and search it in different engines. Make note of the top 10 page returns for each. If you’re a genealogy blogger, share your observations on this experience. This is a subject I have been sharing with people for years!  As a private investigator I use different search engines for different reasons.  What folks need to keep in mind is that each search engine is designed with a different focus by the developer.  The same goes for databases I use in my business.  You need to play and explore to see what search engine will get you what.   Ah the thrill of the internet search, so many ways to locate informat...

Faces of America is a show about family histories and genealogy.  I really enjoyed the show last night.  My husband even sat down to watch it with me, and he is not a fan of my genealogy digging.  I hope everyone has a chance to watch this show.  Last night's episode is available to watch now at  www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica.  The next program will be on PBS on February 17th.  I hope that everyone has a chance to see how genealogy and history help make us who we are today.

The challenge:   Go to your local public library branch again. Examine the local history, archives and/or special collections section. Ask a librarian if you don’t know if your library has special collections or where they are located. Be sure to check the reference section, too, as many of the newer and more valuable books are held in that area. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s local history and special collections. The Joel D. Valdez Library is Tucson, Arizona’s main library branch.  Located at 101 North Stone Avenue, the library is in the heart of downtown Tucson.  The library offers an online catalog that links all of the library branches and resources.  Items of interest may be transferred within the library system enabling all patrons’ equal access to materials.    This library participates in the interlibrary loan for books and for newspapers available on microfilm.   The main branch has thre...