Family History Library Internet Favorites

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−	Selected browser links (bookmarks) are available from the Family History Library to help you find good genealogical Internet sites. This article briefly explains how they are organized, some simple strategies for using them, and how to load them on a home computer. [[Image:Church Family History Center.jpg|frame|right|280x240px]]	+	[[File:{{FHLSLC}}]]Selected browser links (bookmarks) are available from the Family History Library to help you find good genealogical Internet sites. This article briefly explains how they are organized, some simple strategies for using them, and how to load them on a home computer.
	== Introduction  ==		== Introduction  ==
−	'''[[Image:Computer_keyboard.gif|left|230x190px]]Definition.''' The Family History Library Internet Favorites are browser links (bookmarks) to thousands of Internet sites. They are selected and organized by Family History Library staff for their usefulness to genealogists. They are found on public computers at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers. They can also be copied and loaded on home computers at no cost.	+	'''[[Image:Computer keyboard.gif|left|230x190px|Computer keyboard.gif]]Definition.''' The Family History Library Internet Favorites are browser links (bookmarks) to thousands of Internet sites. They are selected and organized by Family History Library staff for their usefulness to genealogists. They are found on public computers at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers. They can also be copied and loaded on home computers at no cost.
	'''Value.''' The Internet is one of the best tools for researching your family history. But finding the best Internet sites often takes time. The FHL Internet Favorites are a faster and more convenient way to find the best genealogy sites. They are a good way to learn about useful new Internet sites.		'''Value.''' The Internet is one of the best tools for researching your family history. But finding the best Internet sites often takes time. The FHL Internet Favorites are a faster and more convenient way to find the best genealogy sites. They are a good way to learn about useful new Internet sites.
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	== How to Load Favorites on a Home Computer  ==		== How to Load Favorites on a Home Computer  ==
−	Installing Family History Library Internet Favorites on your home computer depends on whether your browser is '''''Internet Explorer''''' or '''''Mozilla Firefox'''''. We recommend you print the instructions before using them (highlight the text you want to print, click <span style="font-weight: bold">File</span>, click <span style="font-weight: bold">Print</span>, click '''Selection''', and click the '''Print''' button):<br>	+	Installing Family History Library Internet Favorites on your home computer depends on whether your browser is '''''Internet Explorer''''' or '''''Mozilla Firefox'''''. We recommend you print the instructions before using them (highlight the text you want to print, click <span style="font-weight: bold;">File</span>, click <span style="font-weight: bold;">Print</span>, click '''Selection''', and click the '''Print''' button):<br>
	=== '''If you use Internet Explorer'''  ===		=== '''If you use Internet Explorer'''  ===
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	[[Family History Library|Family History Library]] [[Websites for Family History Beginners|Beginners]]		[[Family History Library|Family History Library]] [[Websites for Family History Beginners|Beginners]]
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	[[Category:Genealogy_websites|Genealogy websites]] [[Category:Family_History_Library]]		[[Category:Genealogy_websites|Genealogy websites]] [[Category:Family_History_Library]]

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Revision as of 16:31, 14 January 2013

Selected browser links (bookmarks) are available from the Family History Library to help you find good genealogical Internet sites. This article briefly explains how they are organized, some simple strategies for using them, and how to load them on a home computer.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Strategies for Using Favorites 3 Internet Sites 4 How to Load Favorites on a Home Computer 4.1 If you use Internet Explorer 4.2 If you use Mozilla Firefox 5 Related Content

Introduction

Definition. The Family History Library Internet Favorites are browser links (bookmarks) to thousands of Internet sites. They are selected and organized by Family History Library staff for their usefulness to genealogists. They are found on public computers at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers. They can also be copied and loaded on home computers at no cost.

Value. The Internet is one of the best tools for researching your family history. But finding the best Internet sites often takes time. The FHL Internet Favorites are a faster and more convenient way to find the best genealogy sites. They are a good way to learn about useful new Internet sites.

Jurisdictions. These Favorites include worldwide, national, state or provincial, local, and topical links from most countries

Arrangement. Favorites are arranged by place and topic. There are six main folders:

• World--sites covering topics significant to more than one nation
• British--England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, and British India
• Canada & USA--Canadian provinces, and United States states
• International--nations of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands
• News of interest to genealogists
• Search Engines--tools for finding web sites using a key phrase of your own choosing

Topics are similar to topics in the Family History Library Catalog. The British, Canada & USA, and International folders are subdivided into nations, state/provinces, and somtimes counties and towns. “General” folders concern topics significant to more than one county (British Isles), province (Canada), or state (USA).

The World folder is divided into three main sections:

• Background Information--non-genealogy data about an ancestor’s culture, or instructions telling how to find him, for example, Basic Search Strategies, Encyclopedias and Dictionaries, Gazetteers, Handwriting, and Maps.
• Finding Aids--reference tools that help identify or locate genealogy sources, for example, Archives Libraries and Internet, Record Selection Tables, Researchers, and Search Engines.
• Record Types--sources that usually show genealogy data, for example, Bible Records, Biography, Cemeteries, Census, and Vital Records.

Strategies for Using Favorites

When you begin research on a family, first search for their surname in general databases. For example, click World, click Background Information, and click Databases. Search the databases in this folder for the family.

Then search for records of the places where they lived. For example, if the family lived in Chicago, Illinois, search for records from Illinois first, and then Cook County. In some cases (especially the British Favorites), you may be able to find local town or parish Favorites.

After Favorites, use search engines to hunt for United States county, local or parish level genealogical sources on the Internet which are not listed among the FHL Favorites.

Internet Sites

The Family History Library Internet Favorites can be found on two websites:

• Family History Favorites: Country-specific favorites can be accessed via a linked map. Last updated July 2008.
  

• Family History Library Favorites: Last updated January 12, 2009.

How to Load Favorites on a Home Computer

Installing Family History Library Internet Favorites on your home computer depends on whether your browser is Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. We recommend you print the instructions before using them (highlight the text you want to print, click File, click Print, click Selection, and click the Print button):

If you use Internet Explorer

If you use Internet Explorer Step 1. Delete old FHL Internet Favorites, if any. Step 2. Copy the Bookmark.htm file from the Internet to your hard drive. Navigate to www.fhlfavorites.com/ Right-click the blue underlined Bookmark.htm Click Save Target As . . . Change the Save in: field to CDrive (C:), File name: field to bookmark.htm, Save as type: field to All Files, click Save, and after a Downloads window appears, close it. Step 3. Import the Bookmark.htm file into your Favorites. On the Internet Explorer menu bar click File, and click Import and Export . . . to open the Import/Export Wizard. Click Next >, click Next > Change the “Import Favorites Source” (Import from a File or Address) to C:\bookmark.htm and click Next > Click Next >, and click Finish. After a few minutes pause a "Successfully imported favorites" message will appear, and you can close any open windows.

If you use Mozilla Firefox

If you use Mozilla Firefox  Step 1. Delete old FHL Internet Favorites, if any. Step 2. Copy the Bookmark.htm file from the Internet to your hard drive. Navigate to www.fhlfavorites.com/ Right-click the blue underlined Bookmark.htm Click Save Link As . . . Change the Save in: field to CDrive (C:), File name: field to bookmark.htm, Save as type: field to Firefox Document, click Save, and after a Download window appears, close it. Step 3. Import the Bookmark.htm file into your Bookmarks. On the Firefox menu bar click Bookmarks, then click Organize Bookmarks . . . Near the top of the Library window click Import and Backup, then click Import HTML . . . Click Next > In the File Name: field type C:\bookmark.htm and click Open. After a few minutes pause you are done and can close any open windows.

Related Content

Locating Genealogical Websites

Major Databases for Beginning United States Research

Family History Library Beginners

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