Are we running out of indexing projects, or is there still a lot of work to do?

Lynet Thomas Smith

I'm not sure where questions go now - I asked this question yesterday but don't see it anywhere. It seems like it's been weeks since we got any new indexing projects, and I'm just concerned that maybe we are running out. Is that true? There are many advanced projects to select from but very few intermediate. Thanks.

slotbuddy

I don't know why no one has answered you. I'm just another volunteer like you are, but I doubt very much that we are running out of indexing projects. My guess is that support just wants to clean up what we have because once we start with the 1950 census, no one will work on anything else but the census. I worked on the 1940 census and that's what it was like back then. No one wanted to do anything but the census. It is expected that the 1950 census project will be released in March.

I agree with you that it can get tedious working on such a few projects but that's how it is sometimes. The only thing I can suggest is that you might look at some of the advanced projects. Not every batch is extremely difficult if you take your time and read ALL the directions completely first. If the batch is too difficult, you can always return it but you might find a few that really are no harder than an intermediate level. You'll never know unless you try and at least you'll be helping us get them done.

Lynet Thomas Smith

Thanks, I appreciate the input.

A van Helsdingen

I think over time the "low hanging" fruit will slowly run out. Many newer records are "born digital" or are typed, which means they can be indexed by computer. But there's still millions of easy to read unindexed records out there, but they may be more local or less widely known than the projects of the past.

When the 1950 US Federal Census is released in April, NARA will also be releasing a computer-generated Index: https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/1950-census-access This Index will be publicly available and reusable. If FamilySearch chooses to use this and not to make their own index, "Indexing" the 1950 Census will be reviewing this index and correcting any errors.