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“How To Be More Successful With Genealogy Websites”

Laurie Castillo
10/13/18

Categories: IR, RT

Talk Abstract:
Every website has its own unique qualities and quirks. Understanding each site will greatly improve the success of the researcher. Discussion will include the many elements that go into the making of a website. Knowing the website owner and the purpose for maintaining it may prove insightful. Becoming familiar with the search functions and features available improves the quality and relevancy of results. The presentation will discuss search functionality such as searching with wild cards, just a last name, just a given name, location, or keywords. Examples will illustrate some very helpful ways to test a website search in advance so searches can be tailored for improved effectiveness. The result hit lists and what can be done with information found will be discussed. Many other questions exist: Does the site include any collaborative or interactive features? What are your legal rights concerning data or pictures there? What about website contents and organization? Do you really know exactly what you are searching? Is there an inventory? Answering these questions and more will increase success!

Speaker Bio:
Laurie Werner Castillo is the 1st Vice President of UVTAGG and is a professional genealogist who has done historical background research for books and family research for private clients. She has written articles for publication and presented at numerous conferences, national, state and local, including RootsTech, FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies), UGA (Utah Genealogical Association), and BYU (Brigham Young University). She has worked with the UGA in several positions and for many years has been a Family History Missionary, Consultant, and Teacher at the BYU Family History Library, a Stake Family Records Extraction Director, and a Ward Temple and Family History Consultant. She specializes in research in continental Europe and Scandinavia, especially Germany, Sweden, France, and the Netherlands. She has researched most everywhere in the U.S. and particularly enjoys New England, Midwest, and the “Western Frontier”. Besides all this, she is a U.S. Census specialist and is well-versed in Early LDS Research. Laurie was born in Santa Monica, California and raised in West Los Angeles. In high school she participated in musical groups and was a point guard on the girls basketball team. She attended BYU where she met and married Jerry Castillo from San Antonio, Texas. Jerry also works with technical aspects and teaches classes at UVTAGG. Laurie graduated from BYU with a BS in Family and Consumer Economics and the Castillo’s live in Orem. She was a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trainer for the City of Orem, Utah, and did Earthquake Preparedness presentations. They have two grown children and 6 grandchildren.

Meeting Agenda
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NOTICE: This presentation is part of a set of over 400 presentations on genealogy and family history produced by "UVTAGG: The Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group".
For full details and to join, see the website https://uvtagg.org.