User:Beccac1229/Sandbox11

=Updating Guided Research=

Purpose
To keep Guided Research up to date and inform the public when new collections are published or collections are added to.

Updating Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet: Keeping Track of Every Collection on Guided Research

Keeping Track: Small FamilySearch Collections
Spreadsheet: Keeping Track of Smaller FS Collections


 * FamilySearch adds records to collections on a smaller scale so it is necessary to track some of these collections to know which collections to add to the "Recent Updates" page.
 * FindMyPast seems to only publish updated record collections after the entire collection is finished being added to.

Rules for Updating
 Only add a new collection on GR to the Recent Updates table if there are over 100,000 records in the collection.


 * Example of how to add entry in table:
 * {| class="wikitable sortable"

! scope="col" |Guided Research Page ! scope="col" |Date Updated ! scope="col" |Comments
 * align="left" |Scotland Death
 * align="left" |1/25/2019
 * align="left" |New FindMyPast collection added
 * align="left" |New Jersey Marriage
 * align="left" |1/10/2019
 * align="left" |New MyHeritage collection added
 * }
 * NOTE: the date is when the database was added to its website, NOT when it was added to Guided Research
 * }
 * NOTE: the date is when the database was added to its website, NOT when it was added to Guided Research

Only add an already existing collection on GR to the Recent Updates table if more than 500,000 records were added to the collection.


 * Example of how to add entry in table:
 * {| class="wikitable sortable"

! scope="col" |Guided Research Page ! scope="col" |Date Updated ! scope="col" |Comments
 * align="left" |North Carolina Birth
 * align="left" |2/1/2019
 * align="left" |FamilySearch collection added to
 * align="left" |Hampshire Birth, Marriage, Death
 * align="left" |1/29/2019
 * align="left" |FamilySearch collection added to
 * }
 * NOTE: the date is when the database was updated on its website
 * }
 * NOTE: the date is when the database was updated on its website

Always update the spreadsheet (to keep track) - either add the collection or update the # of records. 

FamilySearch
 Go to Historical Record Collections Click on the "Last Updated" column heading twice - the most recently updated collections will appear at the top Check each collection that was added/updated within the last week (or the last time you checked - I usually recheck the day you last checked in case more collections were added later in the day)


 * Ignore collections for countries that do not have Guided Research pages yet
 * Ignore collections that do not contain vital records (such as school, military, probate, and other such records)

After finding a collection that fits the criteria: look at the spreadsheet to determine if it is a new or updated collection.</li> For new collections (those not on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records in the collection (underneath the "Records" column).
 * If less than 100,000 records are in this new collection:


 * Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages (in the tooltip)</li>
 * Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>
 * Possibly add the small collection to the Keep Track of Smaller FS Collections spreadsheet.</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 100,000 records are in this new collection:


 * Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages (in the tooltip)</li>
 * Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> For already existing collections (those on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records added to the collection.
 * To determine:
 * 1. Look at the number of records underneath the "Records" column on Historical Records
 * 2. Look at the spreadsheet for the number of records it previously had
 * 3. Subtract the spreadsheet number from the Historical Records number
 * If less than 500,000 records are added to the collection:


 * Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>
 * Possibly add the small collection to the Keep Track of Smaller FS Collections spreadsheet.</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 500,000 records are added to the collection:


 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> </ol> NOTE: some collections are labeled generically (such as county records) and so it is unknown if birth, marriage, and/or death records can be found in this collection. To find out:


 * 1) Click on the link to the FS Birth, Marriage, and Death Collections on the spreadsheet
 * 2) Click "Collections" near the top of each page.
 * 3) Try to find the collection.


 * If it is found, follow the steps above for adding a new collection
 * If it is not found, do not add this collection

NOTE: Sometimes the record count doesn't change even if it appears on the recently updated collections. If this is the case, just ignore the collection.

FindMyPast
<ol> <li>Go to FindMyPast Blog's Latest Records</li> <li>Click on the most recent article (or the articles since your last check).</li>


 * These are published every Friday.

<li>Scroll through to find any pertinent new/updated collections.</li>


 * Ignore collections for countries that do not have Guided Research pages yet
 * Ignore collections that do not contain vital records (such as school, military, probate, and other such records)

<li>After finding a collection that fits the criteria: look at the spreadsheet to determine if it is a new or updated collection.</li> <li>For new collections (those not on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records in the collection (go to FindMyPast > A-Z of record sets and search for the collection).
 * If less than 100,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages</li>
 * <li>Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 100,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages</li>
 * <li>Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> <li>For already existing collections (those on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records added to the collection.
 * To determine:
 * 1. Go to A-Z of record sets and search for the collection to find the number of records it currently has
 * 2. Look at the spreadsheet for the number of records it previously had
 * 3. Subtract the spreadsheet number from the A-Z of record sets number
 * If less than 500,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates page</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 500,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> </ol>

Ancestry
<ol> <li>Go to Ancestry's Recent Collections</li> <li>Select the dropdown (near the top of the page) to change it from "United States" to "All countries".</li> <li>Check each collection that was added/updated since the last time you checked.</li>


 * Ignore collections for countries that do not have Guided Research pages yet
 * Ignore collections that do not contain vital records (such as school, military, probate, and other such records)

<li>After finding a collection that fits the criteria: look at the spreadsheet to determine if it is a new or updated collection.</li> <li>For new collections (those not on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records in the collection (go to Ancestry > Card Catalog and search for the collection).
 * If less than 100,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages</li>
 * <li>Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 100,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages</li>
 * <li>Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> <li>For already existing collections (those on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records added to the collection.
 * To determine:
 * 1. Go to Card Catalog and search for the collection to find the number of records it currently has
 * 2. Look at the spreadsheet for the number of records it previously had
 * 3. Subtract the spreadsheet number from the Card Catalog number
 * If less than 500,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates page</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 500,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> </ol>

NOTE: Sometimes the record count doesn't change even if it appears on the Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry page. If this is the case, just ignore the collection.

Dick Eastman's Blog
<ol> <li>Go to Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter</li> <li>Scroll through articles published since the last time you checked</li> <li>Click on any articles that discuss new records or databases (ignore articles about added/updated records on websites that are already being regularly checked)</li> <li>Add these new/updated collections on the relevant Guided Research pages, the spreadsheet, and the Recent Updates table (see the procedure for FindMyPast for more detailed information).</li> </ol>

The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
<ol> <li>Go to the IHGS's News and Events</li> <li>Click on the latest Newsletter and then Download it.</li>


 * This is published at the beginning of every month.

<li>Open up the downloaded newsletter and scroll down to "Website Updates" (usually near the bottom).</li>


 * Ignore FamilySearch, FindMyPast, Ancestry, and MyHeritage

<li>Look at the collections for the remaining websites (usually TheGenealogist, RootsIreland, Irish Genealogy Projects Archives, and PRONI are listed).</li>


 * Ignore collections for countries that do not have Guided Research pages yet
 * Ignore collections that do not contain vital records (such as school, military, probate, and other such records)
 * Only focus on collections that cover the entirety or large proportion of the country (such as county-wide or region)

<li>If a collection fits the criteria, use the procedure from FindMyPast to add that new/updated collection to Guided Research, the spreadsheet, and the Recent Updates table.</li>


 * TheGenealogist is likely the only website to ever have large-scale new/updated collections. On TheGenealogist website, it is not possible to search by collection only. So for the link for the database, put Parish Records.
 * For the other websites, most of the listed collections will not be added to Guided Research because they are either too small or too specific (such as only one parish or rural cemetery).
 * For these websites you will likely not be able to find the number of records in a collection, so just put a ? on the spreadsheet in the "Number of Records" column

</ol>

MyHeritage
<ol> <li>Go to MyHeritage Blog and find the article "New Historical Records Added in MONTH YEAR"</li>


 * This is published in the middle of every month.

<li>Scroll through to find any pertinent new/updated collections.</li>


 * Ignore collections for countries that do not have Guided Research pages yet
 * Ignore collections that do not contain vital records (such as school, military, probate, and other such records)

<li>After finding a collection that fits the criteria: look at the spreadsheet to determine if it is a new or updated collection.</li> <li>For new collections (those not on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records in the collection (underneath the "Number of Records" column).
 * If less than 100,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages</li>
 * <li>Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 100,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Add the collection to the relevant Guided Research pages</li>
 * <li>Add the collection to the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> <li>For already existing collections (those on the spreadsheet):</li>


 * Find the number of records added to the collection.
 * To determine:
 * 1. Look at the number of records underneath the "Number of Records" column on the MyHeritage Blog
 * 2. Look at the spreadsheet for the number of records it previously had
 * 3. Subtract the spreadsheet number from the Blog number
 * If less than 500,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>DO NOT add an entry to the Recent Updates page</li>

</ol>


 * If more than 500,000 records are added to the collection:

<ol>
 * <li>Update the number of records on the spreadsheet</li>
 * <li>Add an entry to the Recent Updates table</li>

</ol> </ol>

Other Collections
Go through all of the other collections and see if they have added to their collections (sometimes it may not be possible to find out).