A Wiki (or Instruction Article for How Use the 'Books' Resource?

Loralee Wellington_1

Is there already some place to learn how to manipulate the pages of a particular book once I've searched for it and clicked on it? If not, PLEASE create one quickly before I go crazy!

Every time I access a book, I am able to zoom in so I can actually read it and then move the page around to see all of the text, but only for a few seconds. Then suddenly, it will not move.

What ever I am doing that works at first, stops working! Then it will only zoom in and out, but not let me move the page around - I always end up quitting in frustration.

What am I doing wrong? Please tell me you have instructions written somewhere and we're not expected to just fumble around guessing all the time...

Thank you,

Loralee

MaureenE123

I am not connected with FamilySearch.

When you say 'Books' are you referring to books in the FamilySearch Digital Library?

If so, what are device are you accessing the books on. and what is your browser?

I must say, that although I find there are many aspects which could be improved for the digital library, I have not had the problem you mention. However, I have an iMac with a large screen, and use Safari. If you are accessing the digital book files on something smaller, that could be affecting the format you are presented with. The browser could also have an influence.

If you don't receive a response here on FS Community which helps you, you could try writing directly to the Digital Library

DigitalLibrary@familysearch.org from the link https://www.familysearch.org/en/family-history-library/digital-library

Edit: Perhaps it would be easier if you downloaded the book file, and read it as a pdf on your computer. If the book is Public view, I think you can generally download the whole book file.

N Tychonievich

@Loralee Wellington_1 The link for Books on the Search button is called the Digital Library. I agree with @MaureenE123 that the problems you describe seem to be problems with your computer rather than with the digital library. Trying a different browser is a good idea. Hope it made a difference.

And, yes, there is a wiki article that gives help using it:

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Searching_the_FamilySearch_Digital_Library

Loralee Wellington_1

Thank you very much, Maureen, for responding! I hadn't considered that it might be the browser...

(I am on a MacBook Air, and have been using Safari, but perhaps using a different browser would help.)

And I suppose I could download each book temporarily, save the parts I'm interested, and delete the book again...

Happy New Year!

Loralee Wellington_1

Oh, and I was referring to the link that is on the 'Search' button dropdown menu on the homepage...

Loralee Wellington_1

Thanks again, Maureen! It was the browser after all; as soon as I switched to Chrome, it worked great! =)