The Calgary Family History Center held a workshop last week to review the tools at Family Search Labs. Some are currently available and others are in development. The tool I was particularly interested in was the Family Search Research Wiki. I didn't find too much on first glance in a specific way but the fact that all the research guides and general tools are found in one place is a great start. As links and resources are added, this will be a rich resource. Going to the workshop also reminded me that I want to get back into the indexing project. Anyone can volunteer to help digitize the archival records to assist in search efforts. The site has really improved since I first got in and tried it out. More research helps in deciphering the writing and a lot more projects are underway. We spent some time with the Standard Finder with mixed feelings. I like the idea that I can see variations on spelling - not to correct but to assist in my own searches. I don't see it as a correction tool and agreement on a standard may be difficult in some cases, but it will at least allow you to see what has been used by others. I have a hard time being consistent in my own records and this is something I need to be more conscientious in my record keeping.
For now, I find these tools are designed to be very useful in the future but other sites like Cyndi's list and tools available with my Ancestry.com subscription meet most of these needs now.
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