Hi members, I have received a couple of questions form our researchers that are planning trips to SLC and want to know how to organize to be most effective. I know several of you have gone so would you please share your experience with the rest of the list. This will enable others to know what to expect, how to organize their records BEFORE they go and how to be most productive when they get there. It's hard to know how to organize when you are making a trip (any trip) so that you won't get boggled down with several different lines. One thing that has worked for me is to organize by location. Although I haven't sat down and learned how to do a focused list in PAF since the new version came out, I think that's probably the easiest way to get organized. I think most programs allow you to focus in on any given field in your data, so if you focus on the location and run a list for each location you can save massive amounts of time when you have separate lines passing through one location. Any suggestions for your fellow researchers? Karen

I live here in SLC and have a tip or two. the LDS family research center (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp) has done some remodeling so it would be best if you call and ask them how best to organize your records before you come. That way you dont waste too much time. you can also call ahead and make an appointment with a researcher that specializes in your area. good luck Sherry Quoting Karen Mitchell <km1109@aculink.net>: > Hi members, > I have received a couple of questions form our researchers that are planning > trips to SLC and want to know how to organize to be most effective. > > I know several of you have gone so would you please share your experience > with the rest of the list. This will enable others to know what to expect, > how to organize their records BEFORE they go and how to be most productive > when they get there. > > It's hard to know how to organize when you are making a trip (any trip) so > that you won't get boggled down with several different lines. > > One thing that has worked for me is to organize by location. Although I > haven't sat down and learned how to do a focused list in PAF since the new > version came out, I think that's probably the easiest way to get organized. > I think most programs allow you to focus in on any given field in your data, > so if you focus on the location and run a list for each location you can > save massive amounts of time when you have separate lines passing through > one location. > > Any suggestions for your fellow researchers? > Karen > >

Folks going to the main LDS Family History Center in Salt Lake City are in for a treat! Genealogy heaven! First, read this: <http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/lds-slc.txt> Lots of good info. Also: <http://www.familychronicle.com/25fhc.html> Second, regardless of what it says on that page, take LOTS of change. Nickels, dimes and quarters, and single dollar bills. Nothing worse than having to hunt up change for a copy or printout. And copy and print EVERYTHING! Worry about sorting through it later. If you have a laptop, be sure to get a security cable for it, so you can park it somewhere and not worry about it. Kensington makes a good one. Don't forget your power adapter, and try to find seating space by an outlet. A digital camera with a flash that can be disabled is a good idea .Often times you can get a better picture from a screen than the printout would be, microfiche in particular. In the realm of gadgets, a personal voice recorder can be very valuable, to make taking notes quicker and easier. Especially for recording book info. It's much easier to record yourself saying the ISBN number than it is to type it. Make a cheat sheet for info, like this: Book Name Publisher Publication date ISBN Number Surname Page Number Then, read the list and record each book where you find information. Also copy or photograph the page(s). The more you record, the easier it will be to find it again if you need to! Print up and take blank family group sheet pages. Print and take blank census sheets. Be sure to have the correct ones for the years involved. Don't bring ANYTHING in with you that doesn't pertain to doing research there. Lock your purse in the trunk of your car, etc. You'll be wandering around and carting book and tapes back and forth. The last thing you want it to load yourself down with unnecessary baggage. All the items above will fit in one small backpack or briefcase. You might even consider creating a "FHC Assault Kit", a grab-and-go carrier for the things you'll need. Don't forget pencils with good erasers and points. I did, and spent the day using one of those tiny golf pencils with no eraser. Sucks. WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES! Relax and have a good breakfast before you go. Hope this helps! Nancy On Jan 12, 2006, at 1:37 PM, Karen Mitchell wrote: > Hi members, > I have received a couple of questions form our researchers that are > planning > trips to SLC and want to know how to organize to be most effective. > > I know several of you have gone so would you please share your > experience > with the rest of the list. This will enable others to know what to > expect, > how to organize their records BEFORE they go and how to be most > productive > when they get there. > > It's hard to know how to organize when you are making a trip (any > trip) so > that you won't get boggled down with several different lines. > > One thing that has worked for me is to organize by location. > Although I > haven't sat down and learned how to do a focused list in PAF since > the new > version came out, I think that's probably the easiest way to get > organized. > I think most programs allow you to focus in on any given field in > your data, > so if you focus on the location and run a list for each location > you can > save massive amounts of time when you have separate lines passing > through > one location. > > Any suggestions for your fellow researchers? > Karen > >