TMG-L Archives
Archiver > TMG > 2008-09 > 1221677379
From: "DE Neilley" <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Repository for published source (was - Re: Death Reg.Sourcing Sorrows from a Long Time Lurker)
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:49:39 -0600
References: <200891792541.836927@Terry3><C2F69137E652461BAE4C51684E8EE056@CharlieXX><48D134B7.9070807@sprynet.com>
In-Reply-To: <48D134B7.9070807@sprynet.com>
Dear Darrell, Jim, Terry and other posters,
I may have missed something about this thread, as your reply was just that,
a reply to a previous posting. Also, please understand that I don't post
this as a slam at ANYONE, but rather because it illustrates something I am
quite passionate about - making it easy for someone reading your information
to know what you know, what you think, and where you found the stuff you
have based things on.
<snip>
I don't use TMG's repository feature. But I do include
"repository-like" information in my Bibliography output for
anything that might not be readily and widely available. I don't
usually do that if the only question is where I saw it, myself,
but 10% of the libraries in the country have a copy.
Darrell
<end snip>
One of the things I have a little problem with, when it comes to recording
stuff, is that ALL of us, no matter where in the world we come from, tend to
be a bit home centered. Those from the US tend to assume that everyone
reading their info will know they are referring to the US, those from
Australia ..., those from Great Britain ..., those from Canada ... you see
my point here.
*You* may know that 10% of the libraries in the country have a copy. But
what if I am from somewhere else and want to find it? I might be trying from
South Africa or New Zealand. I might have a limited time to look for it
while I am in your country. Or I might have to try to find someone else to
look for it for me, possibly at some expense to me. Or I might be from your
own home county, new to genealogy, and with a limited experience in using
libraries - maybe even a limited experience in being able to read
comfortably.
After numerous instances when I have looked at information received from
others, with gaps in it, I have a mantra that I try to invoke whenever I am
recording something:
"If my reader doesn't have the experience / education I do or doesn't know
where I live, will this make sense to them? Can they retrace my steps easily
for themselves?"
If not, then I try to make sure they can by what I include.
I am not saying here that I think that all sourcing should be right out
front or anything like that. We have gone down that thread frequently
before, and I think that most of us have reached a point where we are
comfortable with our own ideas about that. What I am saying is that, if it
is good enough to include a source, then it should be good enough to tell
others where *you* were able to find it. They may be able to find it
somewhere else more conveniently for them. But if they can't, why make
things more frustrating for them by not taking the few moments to record,
one way or another, where you were able to find it? I really appreciate it
when someone makes it a little easier for me, so I like to try to do the
same for others.
Doreen Neilley
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