Before beginning, be sure to look at several Today in History pages. While each date covers a different event, they all conform to the same basic structure. Pages for the complete year are accessible through the searchable Today in History Archive [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/archive.html].

Given the multimedia nature of Today in History, it is easiest to create a new page on a high-end personal computer or Macintosh computer. Essential software tools include a current Web browser (Netscape Navigator 3 or higher or Internet Explorer 3 or higher) and an HTML editor.

Four essential steps in the process of creating a TiH:

1. identify a significant historical event that took place on the date;
2. search American Memory (and the broader LoC site) for visual material and links to illustrate the essay;
3. research any additional sources necessary to write a factual essay (Encyclopedia Britannica online, for example), and
4. note and save the information found.

Identify a Significant Historical Event

There are a number of books and Web sites available which list events by date. Some of the most useful of these are included in the Today in History Sources page [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/sources.html].

It is important to search the American Memory collection for visual material to illustrate an event before proceeding with research or writing to insure that appropriate materials are digitized. Remember, however, that the essay will develop itself in dialog between the written and the visual research.

Search American Memory and the LC Web Sites

Aids to searching the collections can be found on the American Memory Search page [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mdbquery.html]. To glean keywords for use in a search, try these techniques:

• browse the Subject Index of a collection;
• use Subject Headings linked on bibliographic record pages;
• use specific terms from the caption on bibliographic record pages (however, the terms should be general enough to pull up a number of items);
• notice terms which occur during the course of background research reading.

A sample page for recording links for potential use is attached. Links can also be cut and pasted and collected in an electronic file. Use whatever method facilitates the work process.

Research Additional Sources Necessary

The Main Reading Room of the Library has reference books which will answer the majority of questions which one might have concerning a topic. A fetch account will facilitate quick retrieval of other books (see below). Requests slips may be submitted in the usual way as well.

Document Your Work: Note/Save the Information Found

Each Today in History will have links which take a user directly into the collections. Keep a record of sources. They should be noted in the header of the page. In the footer there is a place to note the source of any direct quotations. Use the Chicago Manual of Style as a guide to formatting these source footnotes.

Also, save in a paper file paper research gathered to the extent that it is relevant to save and might help a future editor track resources used in the creation of the essay.