Sourcing A Book: Contest

Hi, I just read about sourcing a book on I Dream of Genea(logy) I made a comment on the site as it got me to thinking about _the rest of the story_, In My Opinion.

When a book is found (not a purchase) in a library, historical society or person... the citation data should include:

The name of library or place; town, state etc on the card; with call number, date of event, surname with page number. If or when you might return to that 'place' (or are seeing the book at a new 'place' elsewhere) you can check your file to see if you have or have not reviewed the book. My file would be 1) Index card file 2) Microsoft Excel. I use Microsoft Excel because I have it but in the future I will be using OpenOffice is a free software with spreadsheet and is not as 'bulky' as MS Office. Plus features just as MS Office. Example follows:

How to source a book: This is using an index card layout:

......................................... Upper right hand corner: Date: 24 July 2008
......................................... Surnames: Keffer, Puterbaugh, Snider
Left hand side:
Title: A History of Vaughan Township
Author: E. Elmore Reaman
Publisher: Vaughan Township Historical Society
George H. Snider, 1971
Printer: University of Toronto Press, Canada
Location: Library of Michigan, Lansing, Ingham, MI
Genealogy Reference Section
Call Number: this was not done because I planned on buying one. You could also describe the physical book and include pages or if there is an index.
5x8, 346pgs, Dustcover Blue & White, Index

On the back of the index card (that you carry with you unless you are using a computer to do this)
Photocopied pages on Puterbaugh: 39, 170, 217, 184, 250, 67, 284, 290 noting the page numbers of photocopies from the book and pages. In case you err by missing a page or a part of a page or the next page. Once I realized the number of copies I would be making I stopped and decided to see if the book was online, at Bookfinder.com. There were several copies, so I was very excited at the thought of being able to own it. Nope not a book crazy bone in my body!!!

IF you do not plan on buying the book, copying the index is another good idea for any future family found in the same location. Going back for a new look will save time and money to find out if they are in the same book, making you happy you took the time for this. Saves a nice long trip to "anywhere" if you have this. One really _must do_ item is copying any coding there might be in the preface or introduction. Nothing is more upsetting than getting your new found data out to study and realize you have a table without headings and no clue what they might mean. Does this sound like the voice of experience talking? hmm!

Another way to use an index card file is to make a card for a book you learn about that you want to review. All the data to find the book, microfiche or reference, when you are at libraries will be right with you. With an index or computer database file it can be at your fingertips. Create a section for books you want to buy. You are limited only by your imagination. Don't forget in spreadsheets you can sort by columns so there are benefits to the different means of doing things. Or both ways in conjunction with one-another. The last decision to make on doing the index cards is: Does one file them alphabetically by family or by the title of the book. Enjoy! GenieBk