Delicious and Geneology - A great Family Tree Research Tool

 Am sure all family tree researchers spend many hours on their computer searching numerous sites for information on their family tree.  I found that I was collecting large numbers of websites  that I wanted to refer to later or read when I had more time. Often, when I went to look for the site again  I couldn't find it.  It was frustrating, so  I began creating word documents with lists of  family tree internet links for later reference.  However, I found that these collections became clumsy, messy, and often I miss placed them.  Then about four years ago, while I was studying at uni I discovered Delicious. 

Simply put "Delicious helps you find cool stuff and collect it for easy sharing. Dig into stacks created by the community, and then build your own!"

 Delicious is a social bookmarking site, that can be used by all Internet users (for no cost) to organise store, manage, search and share bookmarks for online resources.  Anyone is able to join the site at http://www.delicious.com/. Once you have joined the site you can set up your profile, with stacks (or folders) that contain links to videos, pictures, tweets, blog posts, or articles on anything that you are researching, following or just interested in, eg, recipes, travel articles and of course family tree research.  I have set up stacks that relate to the different families in my tree and  when I find any files, photos, family tree sites or blogs I save the links into the appropriate stack.

 Once you have set up your profile, you are able to use your save button to tag any item you wish to save.  The site has clear and easy to follow instructions on their help page showing you how to join and start saving the links you discover as you research.  The ability to be able to save links to all internet sites I want to save, and at the same time place them in a context that relates to a particular area has been
amazing.

The second BIG advantage of using Delicious is that you are able to share your research with others, by setting up stacks with groups who are researching the same topic/themes as you.  You are able to make comments and share your comments with other researchers and visa versa.

Social bookmarking is a great tool that can be used to consolidate bookmarkes from your computer, laptop and Ipad, assisting you in organising these bookmarks and sharing them with other with similar interests.

If you have not taken advantage of this valuable tool, give it a try, personally I have found it an invaluable tool.