However, one of the more recent comments was to do an update to my previous post http://simplygenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-workspace.html so here goes.
I have a summer home which is 1900 miles from my main home in the state I grew up. I had been using my dinning room table as my work space, well at least one half of the table. Therefore I decided to start using my secretary's desk that I purchased and painted a few years ago.
Over all, this setup worked pretty good for me. However, what didn't work was using a TV monitor for my second screen. It is not clear like a computer monitor is. Therefore, next year, I am going to look into getting a real computer monitor.
When I set up this area, I have windows to the left of me, that worked great when we have a nice clear sunny day, which was true for most of the summer. However, then near the end of my summer, I was getting cloudy days and the dinning room chandelier was not enough light for me. I purchased a small LED table lamp. The third problem I had was there are no outlets in this corner of the room. The other three corners have outlets, thus I had to have a long extension cord from the other side of the room to extend over to the desk. I think I will ask my husband to install an outlet in this corner.
Perhaps not ideal, however I had a small chair next to this table, which I set some of my files and books on when not working. I also can use the corner of my dinning room table to set out papers for examining and then easily pack up when I am done, and leave it on the chair or place them all in the desk. I really need to clear out one of the drawers to place all these files, however, they are full of other important stuff. (wink wink)
That chair also came in handy for a small fan, so when I had the window open which is located to the right side of the desk, I could feel a nice breeze without it blowing the papers on the top of my desk.
In the corner behind me, I set up my printer. I don't print out a lot of stuff, until my relatives who still live in the area, come over and want me to share my research with them.
The printer stand is home made. The organizer is one I purchased and used when I use to have a real, paying job. My husband attached a board to the bottom and then the legs to the bottom of that. I am able to have a ream of paper handy, along with a label maker and a three hole punch. The vertical storage is for some notebooks and folders. I have extra pens, highlighters, markers and pencils in one drawer and ink and label cartridges in the other draw. I had to purchase a new printer this year, because of lack of use, my old one stop working. This is why the box for the printer is still there. I have a large box of more paper below the stand.
If I didn't like this look, I could had easily made a skirt to go around the bottom of the printer stand, I mean that board is perfect to attach some Velcro to and then attach fabric that also would have Velcro. Now that I am thinking about it. I just might have to do that next summer when I return.
Basically, if you are setting up a work area, it is nice to have a dedicated spot for your work, my desk, a comfortable chair, good lighting room plus some basic office supplies. This is not as fancy as my main home, however, it works and that is what is really important.
If you are really serious about organizing your genealogy, you may want to check out the book by Drew Smith titled "Organize your genealogy; Strategies and Solutions for Every Researcher." It is what got me motivated to move from the dinning room table to my secretary's desk.
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