The Ontario Name Index (TONI): An Introduction

Ontario Genealogical Society29 May 2015

What is TONI?

A single index of Ontario personal names, indicating where to find information

about a person.

TONI will reference “anything” that includes an Ontario personal name

What TONI Does

• TONI shows where information can be found• TONI is an index.• TONI may link to the OGS e-Store or

to Pay-Per-View• TONI may link to free websites

Why TONI?

• Direct researchers to available information about a person of interest in Ontario. – Source may be Branch document, web site, microfilm,

family history, archive, etc. – Is on public OGS website so anyone can access it.

• Make Society and Branch resources more visible, increase membership and revenue.

• Make it easier to find resources with names of interest: PPV and e-Store.

What TONI IS Not

• TONI is NOT a digitization program.

• TONI will NOT violate any copyrights and will comply with any OGS Privacy Policy.

• TONI is NOT limited to OGS holdings or publications.

What do we want to include in TONI?

Any genealogical or historical source that contains a personal name in Ontario.

TONI Sources

• Converting and importing existing

electronic indices of OGS & Branches.

• Digitizing & importing existing hard-copy indices.

• Indexing & Importing existing electronic & hard-copy documents, e.g. family histories, Tweedsmuir histories, items in e-Library and Branch libraries, Branch publications such as transcriptions , newsletters, etc.

TONI Includes

• Data previously in the Ontario Cemetery Ancestor Index (OCAI) was moved into TONI.

• Names in Ontario Genealogical Society Provincial Index (OGSPI) will be included in TONI which will refer a researcher to OGSPI and then to original source. (details tba).

• Indexes to digitized documents produced for other organizations may be included with owner’s permission.

Who’s Who?

• TONI Provincial: toni@ogs.on.ca

– Overall Coordination of Project– TONI Instruction Manuals

• Indexer• Coordinator• TONI Input Spreadsheet

– Final review and Input into TONI Database– Indexing at Provincial level– Coordination with non OGS groups

Branch & SIG TONI Coordinators

Branch and SIG TONI coordinators: – Seek, encouraging and assist volunteers to index

Branch holdings, both hard copy and electronic. – Assign file names for TONI.– Ensure that the file are completed correctly.– Forward Branch submissions to the TONI team.

• Contact the TONI Coordinator for the area that your source document covers.

TONI Indexer Instructions

• Provides direction to Indexers on how to index a source for inclusion in TONI:– Use MS Excel or compatible program.– Version 12 issued 4 Jun 2014.

• Used in conjunction with the TONI Input Spreadsheet dated 11 May 2013 or later.

Available at: http://ogsottawa.on.ca/the-ontario-name-index-toni/

What is Pay Per View?• System to make small pieces of information

available for small fee• Part of the overall digitization project• Accessed through TONI• Provides split revenue stream

• Some kept by organization that owns the information (OGS Branch or Ontario heritage organization)• Some kept by OGS to continue to fund the project

Why Pay Per View• Makes it easy for people to access the

information they need online • Instant access model has been successful for

genealogical information companies

• Allows researchers to pay only for the small piece of information they want

• OGS helps other heritage organizations and improves the strength of the heritage community

What Pay Per View is not

• NOT an index• NOT Print on Demand• Will NOT violate any copyrights and will

comply with any OGS Privacy Policy.

• NOT limited to OGS or OGS Branch holdings or publications.

Connecting TONI with Pay Per View

Access TONI from the home page on the OGS website www.ogs.on.ca

Enter the name (and optional location) you are researching into the search boxes and click SEARCH

View your results

There are three options for exploring your results

1 2 3

1. Purchase e-store

2. Purchase PPV

3. Information PDF

Summary

• TONI is a name index, not a digitization program

• Pay Per View is a system for selling small pieces of digitized information

• TONI is the access point to Pay Per View and to the e-Store, etc.

• Searching TONI is free for everyone• Pay Per View costs money and the revenues

are shared between OGS and the owner of the information

Questions?