Have you ever set a goal to index a certain number of records? Or organized a group around a specific indexing project?
Many indexing groups around the world have made astounding contributions to the searchable records on FamilySearch.org as they have made and reached their indexing goals. But using number goals as an incentive isn’t the only way to index! Every record indexed can help someone somewhere learn about family. No matter how many records you index, your contribution makes a difference.
If indexing is not about the numbers, how do you do indexing as a group? While some group members might be motivated by reaching a numeric indexing goal, group organizers should consider that not everyone will be. For some, numbers can be tedious or intimidating. A reliance on numbers can also create an urgency to index quickly rather than accurately.
What follows are a few fun ideas for getting group members excited about indexing—ideas that don’t rely on charts, graphs, or a number.
Not sure what an indexing group is?
Learn what they are, how to join one,and how to create a group.
1. Share fun or unique things you find.
Historical records are about people, and people are fascinating. Can you find a unique name, an occupation,or an interesting fact inside the record you are indexing? Share with your group via messaging or in a group gathering.
2. Get to know the places on historical records.
Are you indexing a record from Minas Gerais, Brazil or Florence, Italy? Learn about the food, names, culture, or history of these places. You could even hold a themed activity.
3. Work in small support teams.
Have you ever thought an indexing project was intimidating or worried your entries were off? Try working on it with a partner! Have one person type the information while another uses the internet to double-check spellings for names and locations. This group process can increase the quality of the index, and it might help you interpret hard-to-read records.
4. Center your goals on learning something new.
Instead of setting number goals, each person can learn to index a new type of record, a record from another part of the world, and so on. You can brainstorm ideas together and then look at help resources on FamilySearch.org, the FamilySearch Research Wiki, and elsewhere on the internet.
5. Challenge each member of your group to teach someone how to index.
As a group, try teach someone else to index, and then share your experiences. Did anyone new join your group as a result of the challenge? Now that’s a successful activity!
6. Invite group members to share an indexing story.
Indexing stories could be about an inspiring moment while indexing, the story behind how a person got started,or simply about how indexing has brought joy or satisfaction to group members’ day-to-day life. It’s possible that not everyone has something to share, but even a single story might be fun for the whole group to hear.
7. Invite group members to give a mini-lesson on indexing.
This short lesson could be on an indexing technique or something they have learned. Much of what a person knows about indexing can be learned by trial and error. Is there a way to help someone new to indexing avoid these errors?
8. Learn how to index in another language.
If you have group members with experience in another language or who can dedicate time to online learning, indexing in another language could be a fun challenge. Go to the Language Resources page, and choose a language from the drop-down list. Be sure to study these resources and the language carefully to make your entries as accurate as possible.
9. Explore different ways to keep in touch
Social connections can make for a great indexing experience, but what this looks like may be different for every group. Whether you chat via Facebook or WhatsApp, hop on a video call, or text back and forth while indexing, those connections can really make a difference.
Let the Fun Begin
So here’s your challenge. Pick an idea. See how it goes. Spend an evening having fun with indexing and discussing its joys without worrying too much about statistics. Don’t talk about numbers. Talk instead about how indexing makes people feel, and focus on the reasons why each of you loves indexing. Each record you enter is helping someone somewhere get one step closer to family—creating connections that might have been much more difficult without your help.
