Hookup between the FS catalog and research wiki
We need a plan from management on how to put references to all the newly digitized microfilm and other resources in the catalog onto the research wiki U.S. county pages. It's a very large undertaking, but it needs to be done if the research wiki is to have long-term viability. We individual volunteers just can't do it; it's like filling a lake with a teacup. I've raised this before without much recognition and will shut up now.
Comments
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what are the "newly digitized films you refer to"??
I also have an interest in the research wiki being updated. I agree with you.
On the other hand - a wiki page with thousands of links or more (an "ocean" of links")
in my mind is just about as bad as no links at all.
I would want a "pool full" of links - not an ocean full.
There are other BETTER ways to query through the ocean full of possible links than the RESEARCH wiki - the Research Wiki - I would think should be just the main most important resources for a given area or subject - resources that are more comprehensive and general in nature.
I would by no means want every single resource that had anything to do with the Country of Italy to be listed for the Italy Research Wiki. I want the BEST links, the most compehensive and general resources. I dont want to have to wade through a million different sources that are so specific that they are of no real benefit to me.
The Research Wiki - is by no means the best or greatest tool in the tool box. It is very important - but it is one of many tools - it was never designed to be comphrensive in nature.
BUT I agree - It clearly needs some degree of improvement. But just going through a list of new microfilms - may or may not be the best approach.
Involving people who have a history of serious research in the subject at hand in my mind would be a much better approach to get their feedback as to links to include.
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So if I understand you correctly - you are not really talking about any specific set of microfilm -
I understand your focus is US county records - but the same prinicpal applies to records across the world. US county records are just one small slice of the pie. There have been an incredible amount of digitization of items from countries around the world.
Again - I dont think just going through some massive list of microfilm is the answer to the difficiencies of the Research Wiki - the Research Wiki was never designed as anything even close to an exhaustive list of resources. It is designed to be a list of some of the best, the most general and the most productive over all.
To search through the ocean of digital media there are much better ways to find specific sources - than just using a general Rersearch Wiki Page.
BUT I do very much agree that the Research Wiki needs updating.
BUT a list of all the sources for each county could be quite large and other tools work much better to find the needle in the haystack - than does a "Research Wiki Page".
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