Reclaim The Records, a non-profit led by the president and founder, successfully acquired and released the BIRLS database, which indexes U.S. veterans' benefits claims, through a FOIA lawsuit, creating a searchable online platform and an innovative FOIA-by-FAX API system.
Nuxt, MySQL, Apache Solr, Notifyre API, Digital Ocean, Wasabi, Mailchimp, Mandrill, Sentry, Better Stack, TinyBird
2025-01-13
- website
Highlight 1
The search engine is highly versatile, supporting various advanced search filters like soundalike names and date ranges, which enhances its usefulness for genealogists and researchers.
Highlight 2
The FOIA-by-fax feature simplifies the process of obtaining veterans' records from the VA, overcoming bureaucratic barriers with an intuitive signature widget.
Highlight 3
The website is built with modern technology stack (Nuxt, MySQL, Apache Solr), providing fast and reliable access to the data and a smooth user experience.
Improvement 1
The user interface could be more visually appealing and user-friendly, especially for users who may not be tech-savvy.
Improvement 2
The website could benefit from clearer navigation and organization of information to help users easily find relevant records and learn how to use the FOIA request system.
Improvement 3
The website could include more educational content or guides to help users understand the importance of the BIRLS database and how to best use it for genealogical research.
Product Functionality
Improve the FOIA request submission process to support more document formats (like PDFs) and expand the system to allow users to track the status of their requests.
UI & UX
Enhance the website's visual design to make it more intuitive for users, especially those unfamiliar with technical processes. Use more graphical elements to guide users through the search and FOIA request submission steps.
SEO or Marketing
Increase the visibility of the website by targeting specific keywords related to veterans' genealogy and military records in SEO strategies. Utilize social media platforms to engage with researchers and genealogists directly.
MultiLanguage Support
Consider adding multi-language support, especially for Spanish, to reach a broader audience of veterans and researchers who might need access to these records.
- 1
What is BIRLS?
BIRLS stands for Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem. It is a database that indexes U.S. veterans' benefits claims files from the late 19th century to present.
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How can I search the BIRLS database?
You can search the database using various filters such as names, nicknames, birth/death dates, SSNs, and more advanced features like soundalike names and wildcards.
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What is the FOIA-by-fax feature?
The FOIA-by-fax feature allows you to submit a Freedom of Information Act request directly from the website, including a signature widget to comply with the VA's requirements.