Get paid for your voluntary transcribing work
Level : Intermediate
Time to read : 2 mins
As discussed in a previous Blog article, many of us volunteer to transcribe records in order to make them available online. Now it is possible to get paid in kind for your contributions.
The Genealogist this week reported their joint project with UKIndexer wherein people who transcribe records with the latter or who volunteer to photograph and/or transcribe headstones will, in return, receive credits to use with either The Genealogist or S&N Genealogy.
To participate in either of the projects, all you need to do is register then download your first batch of records to transcribe.
Process
The process is easy. Simply:
Sign up to the project at ukindexer.co.uk.
Choose either:
a project to transcribe; or
volunteer to photograph the tombstones in a local cemetery anywhere in the world.
3. If transcribing, click Volunteer for batch.
4. Start transcribing by entering the data into a pre-set form on the screen.
5. When all data is entered from your batch then save the record.
If you don’t want to finish the batch immediately you can save it and return again later.
The first batch I chose to test the system was at Beginner level titled The Somerset (Western Division) Electoral Register 1832. It was typewritten and presented in neat columns so I whipped through it very quickly and earned 1 credit per row transcribed.
After a transcription batch is completed and checked by an Arbitrator, credits are transferred to your online account. You need to accumulate a minimum of 3,500 points (worth £5) before you can convert them to genealogy goods or services with S&N Genealogy or The Genealogist.
When record datasets are completed they are uploaded to The Genealogist.
Transcribing records and photographing cemetery headstones is not going to make you a millionaire. But if you enjoy being a volunteer transcriber or like the idea of photographing the headstones in a cemetery no matter how big or small, near or far, then it’s nice opportunity to earn some convertible credits. It’s also a good opportunity to contribute to the genealogy/family history community along the way.
Therese
Your Family Genealogist
Pictures : Courtesy of The Genealogist and Pixabay