What is Scanfest? As Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist, has quipped, it's like a quilting bee for those wanting to preserve their family records, documents, and photographs. We all know how tedious scanning can be! Wouldn't it be fun to visit with other like-minded family historians while doing so? With the instant messaging technology of Windows Live Messenger, we do exactly that! We chat with each other about genealogy, preservation, sports, neighborhood news, recipes, and just about anything under the sun while we slowly reduce scanning "to do" lists.
If you are new to Scanfest and want to join, there are two steps you need to take. The first is you must have Windows Live Messenger installed on your computer (it's free). Here are the instructions:
To join us, you'll need a Hotmail or Gmail account, and Windows Live Messenger downloaded to your computer (Mac users go here to download Microsoft Messenger for Mac). Although WLM states that it is compatible with Yahoo! e-mail accounts, we have had difficulty adding Yahoo! users to our chat conversation. If you don't have a Hotmail or Gmail account, it's very easy (and free) to set one up. Just go to the links in the first sentence of this paragraph. Once you have gotten set up, send me an e-mail (found on this page) and I'll add you to our chat list. You'll receive an invitation message from me at my hotmail address, which will be sent to the e-mail account that you've set up for Messenger (Hotmail or Gmail), and will need to verify that I can add you as a contact.
The second thing you need to do to prepare for scanning is go to Sally's website here and sign up for her free e-mail newsletter. This will then allow you to download her helpful information called 8 Blunders People Make When They Scan Photographs...and How You Can Avoid Them All. Then you will know how to set your scanner correctly to enable you to scan your items without damaging the originals or compromising the digital images you create.
We always have such a good time, so I hope you will consider joining us!
Yay! Scanfest! I've been waiting for this.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait! Unfortunately my photo editing program, Microsoft Publish It! 2003 stopped working, and I uninstalled it with the intention of reinstalling it. Now it won't install! Hurry up tax refund (if I get one!) I want to buy a new proggie!
ReplyDeleteI can still scan though, so I plan on being there (perfect timing too, since next week is a break between football playoffs and the Super Bowl!). So you won't have to endure my play-by-plays!
Thomas and Colleen, I look forward to "seeing" you there!
ReplyDeleteMiriam, thanks for spreading the word about my scanning blunders booklet! It's a great crash course for newbies and as they say in the biz, ya can't beat the price.
ReplyDeleteA quilting bee is a perfect analogy for Scanfest. Scanning is a dull repetitive task, and no matter how excited you are about digitizing you'll get bored eventually. Make it fun, make it an event and you won't get bored.
The bigger your scanning project, the longer the haul. Don't let your project get derailed. Miriam's Scanfest solves several problems at once: It guarantees you "make a date" with your scanning project, and it makes the work more fun.
Until there's mac access, I'll be there in spirit.
-Sally J.
The Practical Archivist
Oh, but there IS Mac access! You can download Microsoft Messenger for Mac here!
ReplyDeletePlease join us, Sally! We'd love to have you!