Exciting Happenings at the Center
We are excited to welcome in the new year with some new offerings at the center. Starting January 4th, we will be opening for our regular days and hours, with limited closures for holidays.
Sunday 2 pm to 6 pm
Monday 12 pm to 4 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 am to 6 pm
Wednesday evening for groups by appointment only 6 pm to 9 pm
These new offerings include classes four days a week. Hoping to offer more classes for a greater variety of options for patrons of all research levels. Check out our calendar for all of the classes and closures. For weekly reminders of the coming classes, sign up for our newsletter/class at the center on the sign up sheet. Or email id_burley@familyhistorymail.org to be added to the list.
New options starting this month include:
1. Basic Computer Classes. This is a six week course, meeting once a week, taught by Heather Woodland. This is a hands on class. Feel free to bring your own laptop if you prefer to work on your own computer. A basic class on how to operate a computer from the very basics of how to use to a mouse, navigating through files and folders, using links, opening multiple windows/tabs, using flash drives and etc. It will be on Mondays starting on January 10 at 1:30 p.m. This class will be offered a number of times in 2022, so if one can't make the class now, look for additional offerings later in the year.
2. An Indexing Class. Pat Cahoon has offered to teach an indexing class monthly on the third Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.. This is a hands-on class, bring your FamilySearch username and password so you can fully participate in the class. If you are looking to start doing indexing, this is a great chance to come and learn some tips and tricks. But it's also a great opportunity to just come and work on indexing with any assistance needed for some of those tricky batches. Starting on January 20th at 10:30 a.m.
3. Research Like a Pro. This will be a four month class, a hands on two hour class, meeting once a month, taught by Shaura Miller and Tammy Stevenson. This is a repeat of the class we started in January 2020 and were unable to conclude due to covid closures in 2020. It is not necessary to have attended in 2020. We will be starting the class from the beginning. It is based on the book "Research Like a Pro" by Nicole Dyer and Diana Elder. We have permission from them to use their book and their templates for teaching this class. It is helpful if you have a copy of the book for yourself as there are monthly reading assignments from the book. The center does have a few copies that can be loaned out for the duration of this class. This class is for the intermediate or advanced researchers. Each person will select their own research objective and work on it from month to month. Homework assignments will be given each month. If you are interested in joining this class and would like the first class reading assignment prior to class, please send an email to the center and get put on the list. id_burley@familyhistorymail.org Not necessary to pre-register for the class, just if you wish to have the first week's reading assignment prior to class. Classes will be on the third Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. starting on January 19th.
4. City Directories- taught by Shaura Miller. U.S. City Directories- the precursor to the phone book. What are they and how to use them. Learn the exact years your ancestor inhabited a place. Helpful for tracking families between censuses. January 25 at 10:30 a.m.
5. Yes! You Can Write Your Life Story- taught by Jolene Hunsaker. Want to write your life story, but feel overwhelmed or think no one would want to hear about you? I believe in the power of writing. Let's get started on the journey of brining your story to life. Your loved ones will thank you for it. Even a small amount of writing will encourage you to take the next step. January 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Other exciting things in 2022
1950 Census
The 1950 Census will be released on April 1, 2022. Not a lot of information has been published about the release of the census. But Diana Elder published a recent blogpost giving some limited information. She indicated that FamilySearch will be releasing more information about the census at RootsTech including an option to become involved with indexing the census. Check out her blog.
RootsTech
RootsTech will be virtual again this year. March 3-5, 2022. Registration is again free this year. Go to their website to register. And we are planning to do some fun activities at the center in connection with RootsTech this year. Watch for more information in February's newsletter about our activities. Also be sure to watch those sessions from last year you might have missed or haven't viewed yet. Some of the sessions were limited to viewing for one year from the time of publishing.
Basic FamilySearch Classes continue
Anna Marie Davis started doing a two part FamilySearch 101 class last fall. They have been so successfully, we will be continuing those classes in 2022. Classes are held each 2nd and 4th Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and repeated each month. These classes are hands-on and start with the basics of how to create an account, how to navigate FamilySearch, and make minor changes. New options to this class will include how to add sources. Great for those just wishing to start doing family history, and also helpful for those wishing for a review of how to work within FamilySearch.
New memory devices options
We are excited to announce we have recently acquired a mini DV camcorder and an 8 mm cassette camcorder for digitizing old family movies of those formats. Additionally we have purchased a second movie digitizer device and computer so patrons may digitize more than one at a time using both stations. If using the new camcorder options, one will still be limited to one movie at a time, as we only have one of each. Note: these are recorded in real time. A 2 hour movie takes 2 hours to digitize.
The addition of these camcorders has about completed our digitizing capabilities. We have machines for digitizing photos, documents, negatives, slides, audio cassettes, audio reels, 8mm reel movies, VHS tapes and VHS-C tapes. Come check it out and see how we can save you hundreds of dollars in digitizing things yourself. These devices can be reserved in advance to ensure they are available when one comes to the center, including Sundays. Reservations are not required. Call the center to reserve them 208-878-7286
Appointments available for individualized research
These are by appointment only:
Swedish Research with Kathleen Hedberg- Wednesdays 2 pm to 4 pm, and 4 pm to 6 pm
Swedish Research with Kristi Thompson- Wednesdays 2 pm to 4 pm
Spanish Research with Sharon Bowers- Tuesdays 3 pm to 5 pm
Danish Research with Carla Carson- Tuesdays 11 am to 1 pm
Call the center to make an appointment. 208-878-7286
Things to check out
1. Legacy Family Tree Webinars is a free option for viewing live or recordings for one week from the live date. Check out their blog for more information.
2. Fifteen Freebies for Genealogy by Lisa Louise Cooke
3. French Records published on MyHeritage- 22 million records.
4. The complete guide to US censuses by Family History Daily
5. How Family History work can aid with Depression and Anxiety
6. Six surprising benefits of doing family history
7. Nine different death records to check for more information
8. Unique ways to gather family history by Maureen Taylor
9. Chart of Search Tips for MyHeritage (general information could be used for other websites)
10. New Research Goals: Learn the Basics
