One of the best-known genealogy Web sites in the world is Cyndi’s
List at www.cyndislist.com, created
and maintained by Cyndi Howells. I used to describe this site as a "list
of genealogy Web sites," but it has become much more than that. It has
evolved into a huge reference of categorized and cross-referenced index to genealogical
resources on the Internet. Want to find an online database of marriage records
in Maine? Cyndi’s List has a reference to the Index to Maine Marriages
1892-1966. Looking for a resource for Eastern European records? Cyndi’s
List will point you to the Federation of East European Family History Societies
Web site. Those are only two of the more than seventy thousand such genealogy
references sorted, described, and linked from Cyndi’s List.
A couple of years ago, Cyndi Howells wrote a book about using
her Web site. In the 21 August 1999 edition of this newsletter, I wrote:
When I opened the shipping box containing the new book, my
first reaction was, "This book is huge!" Cyndi's List is 8 1/2
inches by 11 inches and is about 1 1/2 inches thick. The book contains eight
hundred and fifty-eight pages of Web site listings plus several more pages
of introductory text.
I then went on to describe the book at some length. This week
I had a chance to look at a new edition, called "Cyndi’s List –
Second Edition." This no longer a single book of eight hundred and fifty-eight
pages; it now is two volumes totaling 1,613 pages! Two years ago I described
the first edition as "huge," so now I am groping for an adjective
to describe the new edition that is twice the size of the "huge" first
edition.
The books are almost identical to the information on Cyndi’s
Web site. These two volumes contains listings of URLs (Web addresses) and brief
descriptions of what can be found at each site. The book is arranged by topics
and has an excellent alphabetical category index as well as a topical category
index. These indexes precede about sixteen hundred pages of listings.
Why would anyone want to buy the book when the same information
is already available online? There are several answers:
First of all, many people find it easier or simply more fascinating
to thumb through a book than to search online. These people may be more
"spatial" and prefer to grab a physical book rather than type
on a keyboard. Besides, not every bathroom has an Internet connection just
yet!
Next, many libraries and local Family History Centers find
that a printed reference can be a big help. Many people share computers
in these facilities. Using a printed manual to help plan online research
time can be very useful when your online time is limited.
Finally, there are many people who simply do not have access
to unlimited online time. Perhaps their Internet provider charges by the
hour. Or, more commonly, their telephone line is shared with other family
members, so staying online for extended periods of time simply is not practical.
All of these people will appreciate a printed reference that helps
maximize online research time.
"Cyndi’s List – Second Edition" is about what
you would expect for a reference book listing Web sites. It starts out with
a table of contents for Volume One, then an Alphabetical Category Index, followed
by a Topical Category Index, then a list of acknowledgements, Foreword to the
Second Edition (written by Richard Pence) and the Foreword to the First Edition
(written by Cyndi’s husband, Mark Howells) is also included. Those few
pages are then followed by what appears to be the largest list of genealogy
Web sites ever printed.
"Cyndi’s List – Second Edition" is published
by Genealogical Publishing Company. As you might expect of any publication of
more than sixteen hundred pages, it has a hefty price tag: $89.95. You should
be able to purchase it at any bookstore although it may be a special order item.
Tell the bookstore that you want ISBN number 0806316780.
Dick Eastman Online
