Have you noticed something odd at genealogical conferences, Family History Centers, and genealogy societies? How can I say this…we’re all Old! Some are older than others, some younger…but if anyone is in their 40s, they stand out. Generally, if a person is going to become interested in genealogy, they happen to do so later in life. And if you have spent time in the aforementioned venues, you have noticed something else…many of these family historians lack basic computer skills.
Now, there are a few, very few, genealogists out there who are not using computers. Frankly, I would argue that solid genealogy research is impossible in today’s world without a computer – more about this below. While there are a few holdouts with pencils and family group sheets, the lion’s share of us uses a computer to make our research possible. While most of us use a computer to some degree, it has been my experience that many researchers lack the basic computer skills to make things happen. You might get by, but you may be wasting time overcoming computer issues and/or never truly realizing maximum efficiency.
So, a gap exists for the most genuinely interested in family history research – the Genealogy Generation Gap. Whereas most people involved in family history work are from the older set, they generally lack the computer skills necessary to do more than basic data entry. Their hearts are in the right place, and they might have years of experience but are missing the boat at the keyboard.
On the other side of the Genealogy Generation Gap are younger people with skill sets with bits and bytes but little or no interest in their family history.
But there is good news…on two fronts. First, older researchers can learn a great deal about ‘computer doom’. More is needed, but they are working with the new and ever-changing paradigm. On the other side of the gap, young people are getting older – daily. Someday, they, too, will become interested in their history. When they do, they show up with the needed skill sets.
And why can’t we get away without a computer? Have you been to any of the larger Family History Centers lately? No books! Well, darn few. Everything has gone digital. Good or bad… let’s say, Good and Bad…we do not have the access we once had in the non-digital world. I want to use the term “force multiplier” here. Our digital world is absolutely a force multiplier – we only dreamt about this ten years ago. But today, it is the only avenue open to us. To perform effective research, we each require at least intermediate computer and online skills. Moreover, the Genealogical Proof Standard requires reasonably exhaustive research, which, as we have seen, is impossible without the requisite computer skills.
With so much of the information we seek only available through a keyboard and mouse, anyone genuinely interested in solid research must bridge this Gap.
Aaron Tassin, MLIS 