The following article is from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 1999 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. - How to Find More Ancestors Through Online Networking "How to Find More Ancestors Through Online Networking" is the name of a new book written by Nancy Hendrickson. The thing that caught my eye is the distribution mechanism: the book is only available in electronic format. You can purchase the book directly from the author. Once payment is received, the book arrives on your computer in the form of an attachment to an e-mail message. The book is in Adobe's .PDF format and can be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader. You probably have this software already installed on your PC or Macintosh. If not, you can obtain Adobe Acrobat Reader at no charge from Adobe's Website. I had a chance to read "How to Find More Ancestors Through Online Networking" this week. The book gives a quick view of many topics; it generally does not go into deep, detailed descriptions. It does, however, cover most every topic I can think of that deals with online genealogy research. The chapters include: Networking, the Best of the Internet * Why networking is the quickest way to obtain family records. * How you can find valuable data by networking. * Success stories of other Internet genealogists who network using the strategies in this book * Where the top sites for networkers are located. Becoming an Internet Genealogist * Don't be left out in the cold! * Quick tips on getting off on the right foot as an Internet genealogist. * Don't waste precious online time. * Learn the shortcuts to successful research. The Power of the Query * Why queries can bring explosive search results. * How to write the best queries on the Internet. * Why you should post queries at every possible chance. * Where to post queries that are guaranteed to be read. Surname Researchers * Where the real genealogical treasures of the Internet can be found. * Step-by-step guidance on finding distant cousins. * Pool your family research with other searchers. * Where to find other online genealogists who are researching your family tree and how this benefits you. It's in the Mail (mailing lists) * Why mailing lists are critical in your research. * How to find other family researchers through mailing list. * Where to find the best lists for your own research. * The mailing lists that will bring you quick success. Using Commercial Sites * The two best commercial sites for networkers. * Where to find the free goodies at these sites. * How to find and download Gedcoms Keeping Electronic Logs * Electronic logs will speed up your research, help you keep track of online contacts and data. * Discover how to keep the three most important electronic logs. * Download the best free software program for keeping yours logs. Free E-Mail * No matter what Internet Service Provider (ISP) you use, you'll never miss replies to your queries again. * Why free e-mail and Web-based e-mail addresses will keep responses to your queries rolling in. "How to Find More Ancestors Through Online Networking" sells for $8.95. And, of course, there are no shipping charges. For more information, look at: http://www.ancestornews.com/guide.htm