This presentation was made at the Kitchener Public library 4th Annual Genealogy fair in April 2015. It highlights searching family history options with OurDigitalWorld's search portals, showcasing local history collections for discovery online.

1. Searching & sharingSearching & sharing
your family historyyour family history
with Jess Posgate
OurDigitalWorld
April 25, 2014
Kitchener Public Library
4th
annual Genealogy Fair

2. Who is OurDigitalWorld?Who is OurDigitalWorld?
We are a not-for-profit organization
We develop tools and services that
connect people and their communities
around digital stories and objects
We enable community organizations to
upload their local history content
We provide free access to community
collections through search and discovery
options for the public

3. One search solutions…One search solutions…
Portals
OurOntario.ca
News.ourontario.ca
GovDocs.ourontario.ca
And more…
VITA Toolkit sites

4. OurOntario.ca PortalOurOntario.ca Portal
Local history content from and about Ontario
Includes more than 1.8 million records with ~4
million pages and parts from 200+ contributors
Includes:
◦ Oral histories
◦ Photographs
◦ Documents
◦ 3D objects
◦ Newspaper content
And more content every day…
http://ourontario.ca/

5. Ontario Community NewspaperOntario Community Newspaper
PortalPortal
More than 200 years of community newspapers
Site includes these titles and their content:
◦ News articles
◦ Births, Marriages and Deaths (BMDs)
◦ Clippings
◦ Full page/issue access
Primary resources from libraries, historical
societies, archives, museums, genealogical
societies, and private collections
http://news.ourontario.ca/

6. Ontario GovDocs portalOntario GovDocs portal
150 years’ worth of published documents
from the Ontario Legislative Library
Searchable PDFs allow for full text
results
Coming soon:
◦ HANSARD
◦ Ministry of the Environment portal
http://govdocs.ourontario.ca/

7. So… what will you find?So… what will you find?
Primary sources
Varied content
Provincial vs. regional/local views
Opportunities for contribute feedback &
your stories!

8. OurOntario.caOurOntario.ca
Search across everything…
Keyword Search e.g. “Badgerow”
Faceting – how to narrow your results
Results – using mouseovers, linked
records, linked pages, govdocs link

11. OurOntario.caOurOntario.ca
Advanced Search e.g. “Badgerow” Media
type “Text” or Media type “Image” or try
“Object”

13. Try these…Try these…
Keyword:
“Tweedsmuir”
◦ Histories
◦ Photographs
◦ Newspaper articles
◦ Speeches
◦ Scrapbooks
• Advanced search:
“Cemeteries” &
Geography “Niagara”
◦ Cemetery records
◦ Clippings
◦ Scrapbooks
◦ Photographs

14. Newspapers portalNewspapers portal
Searching Ontario newspaper content…
Keyword search e.g. “Badgerow”
Advanced Search – scope your search
Faceting – includes years, geo-location,
and more…
Results – language and links
Newspaper records – index records
(linked/not linked); full text results

17. Index-only recordsIndex-only records

18. Linked index recordLinked index record

19. Full-text resultsFull-text results

21. GovDocsGovDocs

25. Local & Regional searchesLocal & Regional searches
VITA Toolkit sites
Local organizations / local collections
with global discovery options
Community memory capturing
Opportunities for interaction

26. ExamplesExamples
Ghost towns
◦ Jackfish
 Multiple collections
 Comments
◦ Sulphide
 An exhibit
◦ Nestorville
 Tweedsmuir W.I. Scrapbook
Ontario Genealogical Society site
◦ Family Histories
◦ Cemetery records
◦ Periodicals
◦ Mystery photos…

29. Books/PeriodicalsBooks/Periodicals

30. Cemetery recordsCemetery records

31. Linked names
Family HistoriesFamily Histories

32. Geographic locationGeographic location

33. Share what you knowShare what you know
Answer Mystery Questions
Comments
Contribute your photos & stories

34. Mystery QuestionsMystery Questions

35. Add commentsAdd comments

36. ContributeContribute

37. Saving & Sharing resultsSaving & Sharing results

38. LinkingLinking

39. Site widgetsSite widgets

40. Getting thereGetting there
OurOntario.ca
News.OurOntario.ca
GovDocs.OurOntario.ca
VITA Toolkit Showcase (all sites)
More information…
OurDigitalWorld
VITA Toolkit

41. Thank youThank you
Jess Posgate jposgate@ourdigitalworld.orgJess Posgate jposgate@ourdigitalworld.org

42. Questions?Questions?