FamilySearch is Having a Worldwide Indexing Event



FamilySearch is Having a Worldwide Indexing Event  Find more genealogy blogs at FamilyTree.comFamilySearch is the sponsor of the Worldwide Indexing Event of 2016. They are seeking volunteers who want to help out. You are invited to participate. You can help if you have indexed before or if you are brand new to indexing.

FamilySearch describes indexing as: β€œthe process of entering information from the world’s digitally scanned historical documents into a database, making it easily searchable online.” After a record has been indexed, it becomes possible for people around the world to search for, and locate, that information.

The goal for the Worldwide Indexing Event of 2016 is to have at least 72,000 volunteers index as many records as possible in a 72 hour period. You could think of it as the genealogical version of running a marathon. The whole thing starts on July 15 and ends on July 17.

FamilySearch is especially interested having people participate who have non-English language skills. There is a huge opportunity to index records from non-English speaking countries and make those records available.

The World’s Records website (which actually on FamilySearch), has a running total of the number of people who have volunteered to index. They were seeking at least 72,000 people, and the website says that 88,749 have joined. There is still room for you to participate.

The first thing to do is to put your email address into the box on the World’s Records website. Next, you need to download the indexing software. It is desktop only (and is not compatible with mobile devices). They recommend that those who are new to indexing download and install Java SE6 first.

Do you think your friends or family members would want to participate? Go ahead and invite them. You can click an icon on the World’s Records website to automatically post about it on Facebook or Twitter. (You can also send someone an email). Use the hashtag #TheWorldsRecords when you post about it on social media. You can search on Twitter for that hashtag to see who else will be participating.

You can begin indexing on July 15, 2016. The event will last for a total of 72 hours – and you are welcome to participate whenever you can. The thing to keep in mind is that this is a team event. Every little bit helps the whole team work towards their goal. Everyone can work at the pace that they are comfortable with, and do as many batches as they would like to.

Related Articles at FamilyTree.com:

* Inmates Help With Indexing

* Volunteers Index More Than 1 Million Freedman’s Bureau Records

* Great Anticipation – 1940 U.S. Federal Census

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