I would try to put enough information so you or anyone else can find again the document 20 years from now. You could put the web address but this may change in a few years.
I recommend putting: Familysearch.com; film number; country; state; city; parish; type of document (marriages, deaths, etc.); years the film covers; date of the event; image number.
Sometimes you can find the film number in the first few images of an online set, but some don't have it and some sets enclose more than one film.
Family Search provides some guidance. For example:
"Mexico, Chiapas, Catholic Church Records, 1558-1978." Images. FamilySearch. https://familysearch.org : accessed 2012. Citing Catholic Church. Mexico, Chiapas, Catholic Church records. Archivo Histórico Diocesano de San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico.
Other information you could add is the volume number and record type (eg, baptisms), or if no volume number, then the year range. The page number and entry number, if any, are also useful.
Some sources use folio number instead of page numbers; in which case you would cite the folio. In those cases it is common to use the terms "recto" and "verso" as appropriate. Terms "front" and "back" are just as good.
The film numbers have some utility, but are specific to the FHL, and really are unrelated to the true identifiers for the original records. They have value within the Family Search system only.
Image number and url are specific to the current version of Family Search, and aren't permanent. A couple of years ago, for example, Family Search would give the downloaded images a number (or file name). That has gone away, which is an indication of the lack of permanent of internet sources.
Thanks
Your help is appreciated. Both Victoriano and George brought up a couple of good points that may help me in citing my sources.
Document Sources
I would try to put enough information so you or anyone else can find again the document 20 years from now. You could put the web address but this may change in a few years.
I recommend putting: Familysearch.com; film number; country; state; city; parish; type of document (marriages, deaths, etc.); years the film covers; date of the event; image number.
Sometimes you can find the film number in the first few images of an online set, but some don't have it and some sets enclose more than one film.
Victoriano Navarro
Citing sources
Victoriano
Family Search provides some guidance. For example:
"Mexico, Chiapas, Catholic Church Records, 1558-1978." Images. FamilySearch. https://familysearch.org : accessed 2012. Citing Catholic Church. Mexico, Chiapas, Catholic Church records. Archivo Histórico Diocesano de San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico.
Other information you could add is the volume number and record type (eg, baptisms), or if no volume number, then the year range. The page number and entry number, if any, are also useful.
Some sources use folio number instead of page numbers; in which case you would cite the folio. In those cases it is common to use the terms "recto" and "verso" as appropriate. Terms "front" and "back" are just as good.
The film numbers have some utility, but are specific to the FHL, and really are unrelated to the true identifiers for the original records. They have value within the Family Search system only.
Image number and url are specific to the current version of Family Search, and aren't permanent. A couple of years ago, for example, Family Search would give the downloaded images a number (or file name). That has gone away, which is an indication of the lack of permanent of internet sources.
George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA