This week’s SNGF post is serving two purposes, as Genea-Musings‘ Randy Seaver has shared Elizabeth O’Neal’s November Blog Party challenge.
Here are Elizabeth’s guidelines:
What genealogy “resource” are you thankful for this year?
Examples include: a website, a book, a specific library, found items, conference/webinar/seminar/class, a person or any other resource for which you are most thankful.
I had to think a bit, but not for very long.
The genealogy resource for which I am most thankful has to be FamilySearch for several reasons.
First, the website is absolutely fabulous with newly digitized collections appearing online almost daily. I have been able to read records from Slovakia, Denmark, Italy and Sweden from the comfort of my home. Although many collections are not yet indexed, the search and browsing functions are robust enough that I can navigate my way through most of the records I need.
Second, FamilySearch hosts too many live webinars to count each year. I’ve virtually attended sessions on European and United States/Canada research and learned new strategies at each.
Third, the partnerships that FamilySearch has developed with other genealogy entities means that even more resources can be accessed online. Not all of these partnerships require subscriptions. For example, the book catalog includes digital versions of titles held in libraries other than the Family History Library. I’ve read a number of genealogies through the FamilySearch portal.
Fourth, FamilySearch IS the Family History Library. I only live a 75 minute flight away from Salt Lake City and was lucky enough to get to visit the library twice this year. The expert help available onsite is unparalleled when compared to any other single library.
Fifth, FamilySearch is the host and main sponsor of RootsTech, the world’s foremost genealogy-technology conference. I’ve attended the last four conferences and have registered for my fifth, coming up from 27 February – 3 March 2018.
I have to put in a plug for RootsTech 2018 here, as I am an official ambassador this year:
If you are considering attending RootsTech 2018 OR have already registered, my RootsTech 2018 contest is running until 9 November 2017, so you still have a few days left to enter.
What is the prize? A FREE pass to attend RootsTech 2018. If you have already registered and win, instructions will be given to you on how to have your registration fee refunded. For the complete rules, visit my post from 31 October 2017.
There is no doubt about it. My genealogy research would not have progressed to where it is without FamilySearch!
I also chose FamilySearch. I love how you broke it down to all the parts of FamilySearch that you are thankful for.
Family Search is an incredible resource. I especially like the way you highlighted the partnerships that have enhanced the content. Will be seeing you at RootsTech in 2018!
The detail in your post makes me think that I should check back with Family Search on a regular basis to see what’s new–even if I’m not looking for particular records.
RootsTech 2018 Contest Entry
Ancestry. With the combined power of autosomal DNA, my tree, and records, I’m always getting something new. I also benefit a lot from FamilySearch because of its collaboration with Ancestry, but I almost always search through Ancestry. Having the capability to attach autosomal DNA tests to people in a family tree make it much more manageable to search through cousin matches and determine a connection. Though it’s a subscription based company, it’s the best money I spend every year…and I’m a very frugal person!
RootsTech 2018 Contest Entry. Hands down, I’m most thankful for FamilySearch, too! I spend hours and hours searching their Catalog because it never fails to take me in interesting directions. The webinars are immensely useful, too!
RootsTech 2018 Contest Entry. I love FamilySearch as well, even with its little quirks. (Like duplicate ancestors and sometimes funky metatdata from old iterations of the website.) I’ll definitely say that FamilySearch has records that I haven’t been able to find on other websites like Ancestry or MyHeritage and I love being able to index records through their site.
Great article. I may need to reexamine FamilySearch. I never found it very helpful in the past.
Alice Keesey Mecoy
JohnBrownKin.com
So many of the FamilySearch collections are not yet indexed, but they are digitized. It gets better every day!