I have developed a number of "research techniques" over the years
that greatly help me derive the most from my research time. I like to
write or type something only once (I am not a fast
typist). To insure that this happens, I have three computers: a
desktop, notebook and palmtop. When I do research in a library,
archives or manuscript library, I usually take my notebook with
me, but in some places, like the Library of Congress, where, if I
leave the computer unattended it will disappear, I take the
palmtop. The palmtop is, of course, not practical for detailed
notetaking but it is great for the occasional one.
I do an awful lot of bibliographical work and have published
numerous bibliographies. Although I had been using just
WordPerfect to collect bibliographic citations and Gofer to text
search them (in DOS), I've just changed to Pro Cite and think
that it will help quite a bit.
I find that by putting my notes for an article or book on the
computer rather than on cards, I am much better off. Invariably,
when I had my notes on cards and I was writing, I would remember
information that I had copied down, but as I went over my notecards,
numerous times, I could never find it and therefore couldn't use it.
On the computer, I can conduct various types of searches through the
notes (word, text, etc.), and I now usually find what I am looking
for. If anyone has any questions, please let me know!
Dale E. Floyd
dfloyd@tmn.com or dale_floyd@nps.com