Hi there, There is one additional element that should really be included to make the best query possible. This is a standard item to be included on many of the mailing lists that I am aware of when someone wants to ask for information. In addition to the items suggested by Cheska, you should also include any references that you have already checked. After all, there's no sense in having somebody else recheck a source that you yourself have already checked. I have read the policies for some of the professional mailing lists used by reference librarians. They are pretty much required to list what sources have already been checked, or their query won't even be posted to the list. -- Mary Taffet On Wed, 26 Jul 2000, Cheska Wheatley wrote: > I also do look-ups for several counties and am also a > list manager for a number of lists. I can certainly > share Sandra's frustration in receiving requests for > lookups as well as viewing many inadequate queries > that are posted to lists. > > I think there are basic elements that should be > included in almost every query and before anyone > hits the send button, they should read their query > to make sure each element is included: > > WHO: a specific given name and surname. > (Not, "I'm looking for all Smiths") > > WHAT: what information do you hope to find, e.g., > birth, marriage, death, will record, etc. > (Not: "anything you have on..." > > WHEN: give specific dates when known or at least > a time frame. > > WHERE: specify where the individual last lived > or in the case of Quakers the monthly meeting > they last belonged to. > > WHY: describe what you hope the information will > lead to, e.g. trying to establish parents of > the specified individual. I just might have > other references that will provide the > information you need but I won't check them > if you can't tell me what your research > objective is. > > When you reread your query and cannot find at least > three of the five elements, you are probably wasting > your time by asking the wrong question not to mention > wasting the time of the people who you hope will > respond to your query. > > [snip]