Some people get very frustrated by the fact that Family Tree is always changing and that people keep messing up "their tree".
I think we as staff members know the premise of our Tree pretty well, but sometimes we have patrons that just don't understand. Perhaps we could give them a few of the principles of a wiki-based program in correcting errors and collaboration and then give them a link that includes this blogpost series by James Tanner. We can have this link handy in our toolbox inside our source box for just such occasions.
Here is a portion of blogpsot #3:
Some people are overwhelmed with the obvious errors in the FamilySearch.org Family Tree. They immediately conclude that the Family Tree is either not working or there are so many errors that the job itself of cleaning up the Family Tree is overwhelming. Neither conclusion accurately represents the reality of the Family Tree. Yes, there are a lot of problems, but these problems are really opportunities to correct the Family Tree and thereby add individuals who need Temple ordinances.
I will repeat my first two Rules for cleaning up the Family Tree:
Family Tree Accuracy Rule No. 1:
You and your family are responsible for the accuracy of your portion of the Family Tree.
Family Tree Accuracy Rule No. 2:
No one has or will verify the accuracy of your portion of the Family Tree except you and your family.
Now I will add another rule:
Family Tree Accuracy Rule No. 3:
Accuracy in the Family Tree is like cleaning a house. There are different perceptions of what is already clean and what needs cleaning.
One of the things I like that he includes is some information and screenshots of the Get Help sections of Family/Search Family Tree.
There are many levels of support and help for the website and all of its parts. In the upper, right-hand corner of the screen there is the Help Menu.
Each of these links goes to a different type of help and support. But the basic, question answering help is in the Help Center. When I am asked a question, I usually sit down with the person asking and show them the answer in the Help Center.
Check it out. If you think it might be helpful to you in the Library or in your wards why not capture it and save it for the moment you need it.
http://rejoiceandbeexceedingglad.blogspot.com/2016/08/what-to-look-for-in-cleaning-up_22.html
What I like to do is copy the url above which is the 3rd post in the series. I chose that one because it has the links to the first two posts at the bottom of it.
Next I go to tinyurl.com and paste the link into the box provided. It then gives me a tiny url that is just more manageable.
http://tinyurl.com/zlcgk2z Now I have a nice, compact link to create my toolbox link in my soucebox on FamilySearch Family Tree. You can find the source box directly under you name after signing in. The drop down menu has it as one of the selections.
Open the Source Box and create a source.
Now you have this at your finger tips when you need it. Using your source box creatively is helpful. Otherwise it just holds all the documents you have already attched to people in your tree. You can create one folder for all of them, in the unlikely event you'll ever need them again. Then you have 49 other folders to store things that can really help you remember the things you need to know and to help patrons. If you need more help with this let me know.
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