I need to learn how to help patrons in our Family History Library. What is a good source?
I started working at our Family History Library just a few months before it was closed. I understand some basics from doing my own genealogy, but I would like to be more prepared to help other people. Where should I start?
Respuestas
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@Janet Mayer
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Janet
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It just takes time; and, it is about on-the-job experience.
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We were all NEW once ...
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And, of course, you can certainly go through all the "Resources" in, both, 'FamilySearch' [ie. "Helper Resources" under "Help" (now the "?" in the Circle)]; and, the Church "Website", to do "Temple and Family History" Work, including the "Family History Centre".
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Brett
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@Janet Mayer A few additional places you can go to learn about using the website and doing research:
FamilySearch Research Wiki--how to articles for both specific regions of the world and general research topics
FamilySearch Help Center--click an icon for an area you want to learn about. You'll see the most-used learning resources (help articles as well as learning center lessons) on the topic. You can also enter search terms in the search box at the top to get more specific help.
The Family History Guide--as a stake temple and family history consultant, I refer new ward and branch consultants to this all the time as a great way to learn how to use the major family history websites in manageable bites. It also has lessons on researchings in various countries -- all free.
Now, while centers are closed, is a great time to spend learning. Enjoy!
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The Family Guide is the best place. thefhguide.com
It has lots of lessons you or the patron can do at their own pace and has places to look for sources and lots more
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@Janet Mayer You might consider also joining the group @Family History Center Consultants here in the FamilySearch Community. There might be interesting discussions happening there on ways to help your patrons.
For me, it has been beneficial to specialize in things that make sense to me at the beginning and trust that my knowledge will increase as I continue to spend time doing family history. For example, I knew how to index. Gradually, I became comfortable with uploading memories. Now I do both of those tasks regularly and have just started adding names to the tree from hard copy records my family has kept on bookshelves for years.
I encourage everyone to start somewhere small, and build from there.
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Amber's, @Amber Marstella Rothamer idea of starting small is a great suggestion. You don't have to be an expert in Family History Research or in FamilySearch Family Tree, you just need to have a love of family history and a desire to help. Start where you are and the rest will come. Prayer and pondering regarding family history work is a fantasitic place to start. President Monson said it best: “When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”
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I love seeing people share about how their skills have increased! I think all of us can increase the amount of information that we research, document, and share.
I notice that this is how people gain skills in the FamilySearch Community too. Everyone starts as a new member and they wonder what is OK to post. The reality is that we love seeing information from lots of people. New people have interesting viewpoints to add. Power users have tried many things and shared about many things. We learn from everyone and can be inspired to try new things as we see the successes of others. I love reading suggested research ideas and trying the same ideas on my family. I get excited when people share links or webinars that I can check out.
I hope that the consultants in this group will share their knowledge in any and all of the groups. Please help us look for questions that need answers. YOU can be the strength of this FamilySearch Community. I would like to invite each of you to spend time helping people here, especially when you can't be in your beloved Family History Centers. I know that you must really miss the engagement with the people that you helped in the past.
I remember my first trip to a Family History Center to research my family. I was in Salem, Oregon and there was a lady named Kitty Kemner working there. She taught me so many things. She doesn't know it, but she is probably the reason that I work for FamilySearch and that I graduated from BYU with a Family History degree. She taught me to love Family History.
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I would take the Family History Guide training. You can easily do the "chapters" at your own speed, and skip around based on your need.
Of course the Family History blog and groups are a big help, but may not get the answers you need as quickly as you want especially if you are a late nighter and need to research and get answers when others are sleeping....
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Using the Family History Guide is a great suggestion. Training for new Missionaries serving in the Family History Library receive their training by way of the Family History Guide.😀
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Learn one thing at a time and then teach that to someone else. Start with your family members to practice!
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Ask a seasoned consultant to prepare a lesson for you using the consultant planner. Not only will you get tips for planning lessons, you will also see the learner's perspective and you will know what is helpful when you are teaching others.
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