When Searching Difficult-to-Read Records Manually

Some suggestions when searching foreign-language records when the script is difficult to read:

• Make certain you know how the records are organized.
• Take your time. It is not a race.
• Do not research when you are tired.
• Do not research when you are distracted.
• Take copious notes. Record the notes with any downloaded images.
• Make certain the downloaded images are actually downloaded. Make certain you can find them. Organize them for later.
• Keep track of where you are in the image set at all times. Internet connections go down. Web pages reboot. Things crash. If you were on image 300 out of 450 images and “don’t remember where you were” when a mysterious restart happens…
• Be patient.
• When you start to think “I just want to get done,” it is probably time for a break. You are doing genealogy research, not piecework in a clothing factory.