Issue 28.16
Whether you have indexed before or are new to indexing, you’re invited to participate in the annual Worldwide Indexing Event July 15 – 17, sponsored by FamilySearch.org. See https://familysearch.org/blog/en/worldwide-indexing-event-2016/. Indexing is the process of entering information from the world’s digitally scanned historical documents into a database, making it easily searchable online.
In 2006, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inaugurated the FamilySearch Indexing program, which was an expansion of the former Extraction Program. The Indexing program takes full advantage of the computer and internet, to enable individuals to make a very meaningful contribution to genealogical research. Over time, they plan to index all the records of genealogical value in the world. Then, all genealogical source records will be at your fingertips – you will be able to build your family tree 100 times faster than you could by traditional research methods.
Every able-bodied person with access to the internet should index. Indexing is relatively easy; it is something that virtually anyone with decent eyesight, average intelligence, and internet access can successfully accomplish. To get started sign into indexing.familysearch.org.
Indexing should become a lifelong habit. You don’t have to spend a huge amount of time indexing each week. Half an hour a week would be great, an hour a week would be terrific. But if you keep that up over a period of years, you will make a huge contribution to genealogical research. For most people, Indexing should be the principal means by which they contribute to genealogical research. You do not have to become a genealogy guru to make a big contribution. You can make a huge contribution through the Indexing program. Just image how excited the family members will be when they find the records you have indexed!
The annual indexing event is designed to entice people to join together to index all at one time. It is a good idea to download the batch you want to index before July 15th, just in case it is busy! You can choose from beginning, intermediate or advanced and help is especially needed in languages other than English. Training is available at https://familysearch.org/indexing/.
For more information, contact Shanna Jones at shannasjones@msn.com www.searchshanna.com