Are there checklists or templates made for visiting the Family History Library in Salt Lake City?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I am on my first research trip to Salt Lake City and my first few days in the FHL has been quite a learning experience. I watched the into video and met a number of very friendly, helpful volunteers and elders. I sat down at a computer and started tackling some of the databases that are only available onsite. Soon, my mind was awash with details on sons, daughters, mothers, fathers. The information was coming so fast that I soon got off track and was lead away from some relatives in favour of other family clusters. It was difficult to remember if I had searched each relative using all of the "individual", "marriage" or "parent" search options available (was accessing the Scottish DOS system).

After three days in the library, I'm starting to get into a rhythm in my research, but I suspect that someone must've already come up with some type of worksheet for checking off what you've already searched, what still needs to be searched, etc. Not sure if this would be a generic template, or something specific to the FHL's collections and unique databases.

NOTE: I'm not looking for a list of suggestions and best practices, I'm wanting to know if an actual worksheet template has already been devised for checking off as you actively go through your research at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

NOTE 2: Since the research is done in steps, it is not as simple as checking off a column that says Find So-And-So's Birthday, Christening Date, Tombstone Inscription, etc. because each of these tasks involve multiple steps. I might need to first look up the parish number, or check a finding aid (list) in a binder, or locate a microfilm index that then leads me to an actual microfilm number... but these are only steps that might lead me to the records I seek. I'm getting bogged down in the details on the journey to the actual record and my notebook is becoming gobbledygook!