FamilySearch Wiki talk:WikiProject Utah

On this discussion page, please add your comments and opinions and sign by typing 4 tildes (AdkinsWH 17:34, 1 June 2011 (UTC)). Also add the 4 tildes next to Yes or No votes, so we know it is not just one person's opinion.

Together, we are brilliant! No one person has all the ideas, knows about all the records, or has all the skills. Working and brainstorming together, the Utah Wiki will be user friendly, inviting, and of great value for years. Let's impact the future together!

Utah Project Pages
Project Tasks Pattern I would like to pattern many of the Utah project pages after the Idaho project. AdkinsWH 21:08, 30 May 2011 (UTC) If you see other project samples, mention them here.

Project Expectations

 * Excellent state and county coverage, with contributions primarily by the community and with a minimum of paid FS employee time.
 * Increased interest in UGA and other organizations that help with the project.
 * Document successes and failures so future projects can benefit.

Scope of project
Modern users want access to Internet indexes and records. Should this be the first priority for each topic or section for a county?


 * Yes AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC)

All users should be told about records wherever they are available. What priorities do you give the following?


 * Linking to the FHLC
 * For that county?
 * Priority 1 (likely already under "Websites" for each county) AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * For each topic?
 * Priority 2 or 3 AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * For selected specific records? (What criteria would be used for listing specific records?)
 * Sparingly, if at all. Criteria? Some topics do need specific FHLC sources mentioned, but it's hard to pinpoint the criteria right now. AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * For every record under that topic?
 * Never this deep AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Books
 * Linking to WorldCat?
 * If a book needs to be listed, it should always have a WorldCat link AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC)

First priorities
Met today with Marilyn and Patsy on MeetingPlace for 30 minutes. We made a list of several items (not complete). These have been prioritized by me. Please feel free to suggest different priorities. AdkinsWH 17:22, 1 June 2011 (UTC) Note: it appears that many of these are partially completed. When the project pages are finished, we will have a complete picture.AdkinsWH


 * County courthouse images, web links, addresses, etc. Created task page, added to Tasks needing volunteers AdkinsWH 17:41, 31 May 2011 (UTC)
 * County GenWeb link under "Websites" for each county.
 * Should topic-specific links also be made, such as Cemeteries, Obituaries?
 * Yes, but just to that topic area on the GenWeb site -- NOT to specific cemeteries, etc.AdkinsWH 17:41, 31 May 2011 (UTC)
 * ID repositories for that county. (Libraries, Museums, DUP, etc.) What do they have in their collections? Patsy thinks this is one of the first items.
 * This has the added benefit of helping to ID local experts, people who can give information if not actually contribute to the project. AdkinsWH 17:54, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Search for and link to Internet indexes, images, collections for each topic, each county.
 * Newspapers -- name them, plus point to them on the Digital newspapers project
 * Churches (LDS and others) wards or congregations, boundaries, history and changes over time. Also location of the records.
 * This is a project in and of itself and can bog down the progress on other topics for a county. How can it be divided into logical steps and priorities? AdkinsWH 17:54, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * History of the counties -- "Did you know?" Something to catch interest -- pictures ID some printed histories. Created task page, added to Tasks needing volunteers AdkinsWH 22:12, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Look at the topic sections for the Utah counties. Are they all pertinent? Are other topics needed. Prioritize so we get the most imporant first.
 * State topics also
 * Iron county -- Patsy has volunteered

Second priorities

 * Native Americans
 * Quilt walk and other traditions - pageants like Onion Days, strawberry days, 24th of July) Adds interest, "color"
 * Fill in all topic sections for a county
 * Bread crumb trail must be on each new page

The Utah Project does not include
Sub-projects that could bog down the Utah project


 * Getting too specific under any topic. This would bog down the project in a hurry.AdkinsWH 17:54, 31 May 2011 (UTC)
 * LDS research -- the scope must be very clear at the beginning AdkinsWH 17:41, 31 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Church records, especially LDS records
 * First pass could simply list them and refer to Jensen's Enclyclopedic History on Ancestry, with instructions to search by name of ward or other entity AdkinsWH 17:41, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

Low priority, but interesting ideas


 * Going through NUCMC for each county (leads to manuscript collections) AdkinsWH 17:54, 31 May 2011 (UTC)
 * Finding dissertatons that assist with Utah research. (The info may be on the Internet, but they lead to manuscript collections AdkinsWH 17:54, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

Timeline

 * Create project task pages
 * Agree on scope of project
 * Recruit
 * Train

Contents
I was looking at some of the county pages, some need help. Yes I know you are right about the Utah county pages needing help. Dawne

Layout
... I think under the content box [may] work for the [placement of the] moderator sign. I also like the lay out of the Idaho pages. --Jenson1 20:13, March 19, 2011 I too like the Idaho pages. We would love to have you help make the Utah county pages as good as Idaho. Dawne

The layout of the Utah page is not ideal in my opinion. Comments have been made on the Discussion page. AdkinsWH 21:18, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Leadership

 * Content specialists: Patsy, Marilyn, and Pat, with others they may invite.
 * Community involvement: Wilma, Dawne and UGA representatives
 * Scope of the project: The above plus the moderator (Fran)and a UGA representative.

Learn to better engage community

 * Provide incentives?
 * Invite county moderators/adopters?
 * Contact consultants in FHC’s?
 * Inform/enlist local experts and record custodians
 * Social networking

Moderators and adopters
I would like to be a moderator for Davis County, Utah. Can not get wikitext to accept my name.User:Jenson1

Train volunteers

 * Make specific training available for specific tasks

We probably need to define tasks and get some instructions in place before bringing on the volunteers that aren't familliar with unsing wiki. By the way, what is the status of the people who wanted to volunteer at Riverton? Can we use them or are they syphoned off elsewhere now? HendricksonP 14:48, 3 June 2011 (UTC)

Identify typical tasks

 * Tasks at state and county levels are based on desired contents per content specialists.