The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research (PBS Ancestor) [Paperback]

Marcia Yannizze Melnyk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2000 | Series: PBS Ancestor

A wide variety of organizational techniques illustrate how to streamline research by using research facilities, the Internet, research trips, the postal service and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Melnyk, a professional genealogist, addresses the need for time management and organization in this latest how-to-do-genealogy-better guide. She gears this toward new genealogists strapped for research time, emphasizing numerous materials and techniques that cut down on piles of paper and repetitious research, and offers suggestions for the types and proper usage of genealogical forms (and provides reproducible forms at the back of the book), filing systems, and where and when to look for bargains on office materials. Melnyk also discusses the benefits of gathering information from relatives, organizations, and the Internet along with suggestions for using and evaluating electronic sources. She provides a brief but very informative chapter on assessing and extracting information from documents and covers preparing for and making the most of a research trip, offering time-saving and efficient search methods. Her chapter on research etiquette should be required reading for all genealogists (and librarians!) for its clear-eyed perspective. Melnyk's work transcends Sharon Carmack's Organizing Your Family History Search (LJ 6/15/99) with its discussions on efficient research and time management. Recommended for public libraries. (Index not seen.)DElaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Ft. Wayne, IN
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558705465
• ISBN-13: 978-1558705463
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Essential Guide for any genealogy researcher, July 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research (PBS Ancestor) (Paperback)

This is the book I wish I'd had when I began researching my family history. The organization and time-saving techniques the author shares are fantastic for anyone from the professional genealogist to those who can only work on it now and then. The techniques are clearly explained and reviewed for easy reference. The book gives just enough guidance (the tone is helpful, not bossy) for any beginner, yet the techniques are flexible to match your needs and style. If you have an out-of-control paper pile, you'll immediatley appreciate this book. Forms that can be copied for personal use are included; a more complete set can be found in Emily Anne Croom's "Unpuzzling Your Past Workbook", as recommended by the author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific organization tips, January 4, 2004

By 

J. L. Kingston "Lori" (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research (PBS Ancestor) (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book to family history researchers who have limited time. The author has great suggestions for using short amounts of times -- lists of tasks that can be done in five minutes, fifteen minutes, thirty minutes -- and ideas for controlling the mountains of paper that seem inevitable. I particularly like (and use) her suggestion about an alphabetical index of ancestors: it's a lifesaver when I'm at the library and come across a familiar-looking name ("Is that someone I'm related to or someone I went to college with?" <smile>)

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good for the beginning genealogist, October 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Weekend Genealogist: Timesaving Techniques for Effective Research (PBS Ancestor) (Paperback)

In fact, I believe this book is mistitled. It should be "The Beginning Genealogist." I consider myself an "intermediate" genealogist and looked forward to many timesaving tips. Most of the timesavers I had already figured out for myself. The forms are helpful if you don't have them, but don't try to find them in the index. I tried to find the Correspondence Log. The only index reference is to a page that gives you a cross-reference to the introduction to the log. This section leads you to the form in the index. This was not worth the time and money to me.