Anyone with a computer and at least occasional access to the Internet can participate in FamilySearch indexing. Indexing is a great way to introduce people to family history and the records that document our ancestry. And with more than 4.2 million rolls of microfilm that need to be made available online, the need to get more volunteers involved in the effort is great. Please consider the following ideas on how to share FamilySearch indexing with others:
- Talk about FamilySearch indexing and refer people here to get started. If necessary, consider writing down the Web address and handing it to the person you are inviting to participate. Referring people directly to the indexing site will help ensure they get to the right location.
- Introduce indexing to children, grandchildren, or youth groups to get them started at a young age. Indexing provides teens with something fun and productive to do that allows them to serve others.
- Invite others to visit and “like” the FamilySearch indexing page on Facebook, where they can follow what others are saying about the indexing program and decide how they want to get involved. Thousands of people have visited and become fans of the Facebook page. Nearly one million people who use Facebook have specified their interest in family history or related activities. Inviting people to become fans on Facebook is an easy entry point to indexing.
- Include FamilySearch indexing in your blog posts or online comments to inform others about the opportunity to participate in the program. Many opinion leaders in the family history community post regular updates on FamilySearch indexing in their blogs and newsletters. If you maintain a blog or Web site, you can do the same. Similarly, if you are active in online forums and message boards, you may find an opportunity to mention FamilySearch indexing to let others know about this effort to make more records available online.
- Encourage other indexers through positive interaction. The FamilySearch indexing page on Facebook, the FamilySearch forums, and other venues allow us to encourage and help each other in our efforts to index the world’s records. Helping each other in our efforts has an influence in our desires to share the volunteer opportunity with others, since we know we are inviting them into a nurturing environment that will help them succeed.
Thank you for your continued support with indexing. We know that together we are making a difference in the lives of family historians around the world. Each individual effort to get more people involved helps accelerate this amazing effort.
