General Indexing Tips for Volunteers 💡
🎯 Core Principles
| Principle | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| ✅ Quality over speed | Accuracy and completeness more important than finishing quickly |
| 📏 Stay consistent | Same formatting = easier searching later |
| ❓ Ask questions | Corrections are harder than getting it right the first time |
📋 Before You Start
Every Time
Read the instructions at the top of each form before you begin.
✍️ Formatting Consistency
| ✅ Do This | ❌ Not This |
|---|---|
03/07/1946 |
3/7/46 or March 7, 1946 |
Smith, John |
John Smith |
| Leave blank if unknown | "N/A" or "?" |
🤔 When to Ask
Ask Before Guessing
- Something doesn't make sense?
- Not sure about formatting?
- Can't read handwriting?
- Missing information?
Archives staff are here to help you succeed!
🙏 Thank You
Your Work Matters
Neat, clear entries help future researchers use this information. Your care and attention now saves researchers hours of work later.