How it works

• NEWS : You can now search the index on-line.

• We identify books which are useful for local or family history research but do not contain an index - the book MUST BE relevant to our region.  Email me if you think a book should be added to our list - give me the full details (Title, author, publisher, edition, year of publication etc. - anything to help identify the version to be indexed).

• Check out the list of books and volunteer to index one waiting for adoption.  Books are generally available at your library or through inter-library loan.

• If you are aware of books that have already been indexed by volunteers that could be added to the Consolidated Index, please let us know.

• When a book has been indexed, the file is sent to the Project Co-ordinator and added to the Geelong Consolidated Books Index.

Format and guidelines for Indexing

• A spreadsheet file is preferable, however database files are also OK.

• Include subjects of interest as well as people and places.  For example, Railways could be a relevant index entry.

• You only need two columns of information - Index entry and page numbers  (as per the example below).

• For people, the index entry should be in the form of Surname comma space First Names space title - e.g. SMITH, John Captain or BROWN, E Mrs.  If possible, use capitals for the surname.

• Avoid using punctuation wherever possible -
   

  EXAMPLE	ENTER
  ship "Bussorah Merchant"	Bussorah Merchant, ship
  "Greenvale" [property name]	Greenvale, property
  Capt. W. B. Smith M.L.C.	SMITH, W B Capt MLC

• Page numbers should be accumulated for the same index entry i.e.

however if you have trouble doing it this way, it is OK to just have one page number per entry.  Don't worry about trying to sort the index - that will all happen when it's added to the database.  Ideally, you can send a file with a handful of entries to test it first.

• If you have already produced an index which could be added to our database and you are willing to provide the file or the index, please contact me.

• How do you index a book?  Start at the first page (usually page 1 but it could be i, ii, iii, iv, etc.) and enter relevant items, people, places etc. as you read down the page and enter the page name in the column beside each entry.  Some people prefer to keep sorting their own index and accumulating the page numbers.  Other people prefer to just create a new line for every entry on every page.  Either will be acceptable.  If in doubt, have a look at a book with an index for ideas.  Remember to put the KEYWORD at the beginning of the entry - i.e. "Grange, The" and not "The Grange".   If in doubt, put in MULTIPLE entries - i.e.

  • Drysdale Methodist Church

  • Church, Drysdale Methodist

  • Methodist Church, Drysdale

  Basically, try to think how YOU would look in an index for something.

And if you have questions - just ask!