Is the program to digitize microfiches already underway?
I have been browsing the Catalog today and found a number of records, to which I would like access, are currently only in microfiche format.
Whilst accepting these might be subject to restricted rights viewing once digitized, I wondered if anyone can update us on the digitization program in itself? We received regular updates on the microfilm digitization program and were told microfiche digitization would follow once that was completed.
So, has a program been instigated, or are we still a way off even that stage? No help from the Blog, at present.
Best Answer
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Hi @Paul W
I am sure that you are aware that the catalog is undergoing massive updates which means the information there is locked for now, but when you are talking about collections that show the reel indicating that they can only be viewed in the microfilm format, are there DGS numbers [Digital Genealogical Numbers]? The DGS number indicates the microfilms have been digitized, but the record custodians have not made the digital images available yet. The microfilms, however, can be viewed at the Family History Library in Salt Lake.
There does not appear to be any new information about digitizing microfiche collections. The knowledge article from our Help Center about digitizing microfiche explains that "with the completion of film digitization in 2021, the family history department plans to begin to digitize our microfiche collection" however, no dates regarding when this will happen appear in the article. There is a reminder, however, to check back to see if images from these collections have become available.
My suggestion would be to consider searching through the Explore Historical Images portion of FamilySearch since we are aware that digital images are being added through this feature on a daily basis. It might be possible that images will be made available through this feature before the updates to the catalog are finished. Additional information about using this feature is available through the Help Center.
I know you are a seasoned veteran at using FamilySearch and our many programs and features, so this information may not be helpful to you, but I hope other guests who also wonder about the status of microfiche might find this helpful information. Thank you so much for your post.
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Answers
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Hi Paul
We are moving your question to the Search category in Community. You can still access your question by clicking on the Title.
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Thank you for your response. I suppose it was wishful thinking to suppose someone in the "digitizing team" (if there is such a thing) would read my post here and respond with a, "Yes, it's well underway already!"
However, as the Catalog is locked (hence no updates / new links, even if certain microfiches have already been digitized) I believe you offer the only alternative in suggesting checking out the "Images" section.
Hopefully, there might be a Blog item sometime in the year. Whether or not that will be before the revised Catalog appears is another matter. But, for now, thanks again for giving this your attention. I will be patient!
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I do not think it matters or not whether the digitisation of microfiches has commenced, because I strongly suspect that none of them will be available to view digitally for copyright reasons. As far as I am aware, all the microfiches were purchased by FamilySearch, and FamilySearch did not actually film records in that format.
FamilySearch over the recent years has become more restrictive in relation to copyright as to what it makes available for digital access. As an example, there were many digitised books which in the past which were available to view at Family History Centers, but this option was withdrawn, from memory about 4-5 years ago.
I suspect that FamilySearch will take the view that copyright restrictions apply to microfiches in the same way as an equivalent book published at the date the microfiche was published.
I think even if the underlying data/book is out of copyright, if there was an edition published subsequently, there is a view that the reprint becomes subject to copyright. I do not know enough about copyright to know if this is a correct view.
The Internet Archive (Archive.org) has a facility Books to Borrow for books still in copyright. This is a Borrowing scheme for books still in copyright (also called Controlled Digital Lending) and there is much legal opinion which has indicated CDL is lawful. However FamilySearch has said in the past it will not do this, and I think similarly it is very likely digitised microfiches will not be available for digital viewing. If this is so, the data will not appear in Historical Images, as mentioned in a post above, because Historical Images only contains Images which are available to view on your home computer, not images which are restricted in any way.
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Thank you for your additional insight regarding your opinion about whether or not microfiche records will be made available after they have been digitized. Since FamilySearch is adamant about maintaining good relationships with those who have legal copyrights to records, and since this digitizing has not been started according to the information at our disposal, you may be very right.
My mention of the Explore Historical Images is the result of realizing that while the catalog is locked, many images may be made available that we would not be able to know about if our research source is simply the catalog. This information might be helpful to a novice who is simply reading this discussion in the Community.
I loved your information about the Books to Borrow, however, if FamilySearch does not wish to participate in this type of controlled digital lending there are probably good underlying reasons which we are not aware of. Thanks again for this conversation, and bless you with your continued research.
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