I have started using the batch numbers to do the groundwork before 
going to the FHC to read the actual films.  There are so many 
entries that are smeared or too light to read that having them read 
by someone else has been a Godsend. In doing marriage records for 
Tamazula the online batch # gave me a marriage for my ancestor 
Benito Gutierrez that I never would have been able to read on my 
own. I allow for misspelled names and missing dates.  There are 
times when I know I will have to order the film a second time but 
when time is an issue pulling all the surnames I'm researching with 
the % and a surname has saved the day more than once. Now when I go 
to read the film I've already started my record with dates and names 
in sequence so I do them first and then go back and do the complete 
record a second time. I always order at least 2 films because one 
usually is being used by someone else and I've waited up to 2 months 
for a film to arrive or as little as 8 days. 
My husband is a contract worker so we've lived in 12 states in the 
last 10 years so there are times when I am trying to get as much 
information for my family lines as possible so time and availability 
can sometimes be an issue for me. If I'm in an area where there is 
no history center I have my groundwork done with the batch #'s and 
ready to go the next time I'm lucky enough to find a city with a 
center.
Any other tips to help use the resources available to us?
Linda in Everett