Film access still restricted at family history center
I am trying to access a digitized microfilm at a family history center, but it is still restricted. Out of three microfilm associated with a particular German village's church records, one is restricted and the other two are available in the center. Is this a temporary situation? If it is restricted for contractual reasons, how do I find out where I can access these records?
Best Answers
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I note there are Confirmation records from 1974 on this film. That would be recent enough that the entire film must be restricted, perhaps until 2075 if a 100-year restriction applies.
If a film cannot be viewable online in any circumstances (as would be the case if privacy laws apply, privacy laws are not waived because you're at a FHC or Affiliate Library) a microfilm reel instead of a camera/key symbol appears in the right column. It is thus a but confusing that a camera/key symbol appears, which implies that some categories of users can access this film digitally.
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Yes, it looks like those recent confirmation records are what is locking that film. But do not fret, they are working on a fix for that right now in the Images section. I searched for that film there, but it is not available yet. Keep checking back as they are working through all the films in the catalog and fixing issues like this one! Your records should be available in the Images section long before 2075!
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Answers
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I am not connected with FamilySearch
You need to look at the catalog entries in the FamilySearch catalog https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog to see if there is any particular difference in the contents of the microfilms
Perhaps the film not available has baptismal records of less than one hundred years ago, or is an item on a microfilm where one of the other (unconnected) items has baptismal records of less than one hundred years ago
You would need to provide the microfilm numbers to get more definite suggestions.
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If the Catalog entry has a microfilm symbol beside it, it means the record it not available online anywhere and can only be viewed at Salt Lake City.
If a Catalog entry has a camera/key symbol, clicking on it gives a message explaining how you access the records. There are some records that can be viewed only by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints at FHCs (thus non-members cannot view the records at all). There are also some records with different restrictions in different countries.
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it is so frustrating when you cannot access the records that you expect have your family's information.
The most likely reason for one out of a set of records not being accessible is that something on that film is too recent (1900s) if you can give us the specific film number we might be able to figure out why that particular film is not accessible.
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All, thank you for your comments. To be clear, I am referring to Film #1044998 for the village of Emerkingen with parish records from the 17th and 18th century. At home, familysearch shows 1044998 with a camera & key symbol, same as related films #1044999 & 1045000 for the same village--that's not surprising as, in my experience, German Catholic parish records can only be accessed at a Family History Center. However, when I was visiting the NYC FHC, films #1044999 & 1045000 had the camera symbol and were readily viewable while film #1044998 still had the camera and key symbol. So it was inaccessible digitally even at the FHC and when I clicked on it I only saw messages that images were unavailable for viewing online at this time. None of the films had the microfilm symbol next to them. If #1044998 is not viewable in an FHC, is there anywhere that it can be viewed? I'm not sure what to make of it.
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Thanks everyone. In my quick scanning of the dates, I assumed that was simply a typo and the confirmation records ended in 1794 not 1974. Most of these microfilms of German parish records were made in the late 60s and early 70s so I didn't put much stock in any records being recent. If it indeed carries records through 1974, I might be best off contacting a researcher in Germany to locate the original parish book. My ancestors left Emerkingen by 1800 so the recent records aren't my concern.
Thanks again.
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Dear AnneLoForteWillson
I hope you are doing fine. Your question and replies too are very insightful .
I am looking for old Italian records only available on microfilms, can you take a look at it?
Surely, I wish I could see them all because they contain my family history, but if I provide a specific film number, can you try to help me to find the images?
I am looking for births registration 1872 - 1891 , also another file with 1871-1878, deaths 1871 - 1891 the microfilm number is 2252112
Thank you in advance !
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You could try the FamilySearch Library Look Up Service to see if they can provide you with a pdf of the pages relevant to your research?
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Confused about restricted access, even from a FHC Library. This is the item: "Uruguay, registros parroquiales, 1726-2000", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6D7Z-P8WG : Sun Jun 04 21:11:37 UTC 2023), Entry for María de la Cruz Rafaela and Ramón ? Maurentes, 16 de mayo de 1836.
Newer records seem to be accessible but older ones are not. Other records in Uruguay are accessible, so it appears access restriction is haphazard. Is it possible to find out how is the restriction determined & who manages it? Is it possible to "appeal" to the record owners and how. Thank you!
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I looked at this entry and I think this is an index-only record. That means there is no image linked to the record. To see if there is an image of the original record available on FS, you should look in the Catalog and Images sections and search by place name. If FS doesn't have or it's restricted, try looking at the FS Wiki for advice on alternative websites that may have access.
These are Catholic records, and the Catholic Church in some parts of the world is reluctant to make their records easily accessible due to theological disputes with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (who sponsor FS).
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I'm at my FSC this afternoon, and I checked on the record @Diego Hernandez_1
It is not available even here. It even has a new-to-me "Lock" symbol, with the message
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I am not connected with FamilySearch
The FS link for this record is https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D7Z-P8WG
I note it is an indexed record produced by a computer so may not be accurate.
The digital folder reference is 004647462_011_M9ZR-K21 Image 96 If you put this DGS in the Catalog Search you get "A film number is a number up to 9 digits in length" which is not helpful. Perhaps someone from FamilySearch can give some information about how to Search for records with a DGS such as this. @Maile L
The indexed record says the place is San Carlos Borromeo, San Carlos, Maldonado, Uruguay. I assume this is an actual place, but haven't checked. However if this is as a result of indexing by a computer it could be incorrect. I put this in the catalog Search and it says "No matching places"
If you click on the DGS number and click on some of the other entries I get a message
"We're unable to show this record to you.
This record can only be displayed on certain accounts. FamilySearch must honor the agreements we have with our partners, record owners, and internal policies".
In the past this was a message shown to non LDS church members for records which were only available to church members. I don't know if this is the only situation this message appears.
The Wiki page for the collection is https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Uruguay,_Catholic_Church_Records_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records. Given there appears to be nothing in the Catalog for the place of this record, I do think the Wiki page could offer more details about this type of restricted record.
I also think at the very least, when there is no image available, the archive where the records are held should be given as is given for records in the current catalog. In the record under consideration the church name is given, ( but if indexed by a computer it could be inaccurate) but these days not many historical church records are actually held by individual churches, rather they are held in larger church archives, or State archives etc.
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The catalog has not been updated in nearly 2 years, @MaureenE123, while the update has been occurring in the background. The record set in question was only published to FS this month. IOW, it won't be listed in the old format catalog.
In the new catalog https://libcat.familysearch.org/Record/1107497?searchId=170916&recordIndex=1&page=1&referred=resultIndex
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Thank you for the link to the new catalog @Áine Ní Donnghaile
I see that these records were filmed by FamilySearch in 2001 and in fact do appear in the old catalog https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/110749. Just not picked up by the Search from the location details given in the FamilySearch indexed record. How confusing is that for a researcher?
The new catalog DOES NOT CAPTURE DGS numbers but the old catalog lists 4 DGS numbers 4647459, 4647460, 464746, 4647462. The DGS number mentioned above 004647462_011_M9ZR-K21 seems to be a variant form of 4647462.
The description for the latter is Items 1-4 Defunciones, Libros 1 (cont.)-4, (oct.) 1821-(dic.) 1937 (El 1er. Libro incluye partidas en portugues traducidas más adelante. El Libro 3 incluye partidas sueltas de ago.-sep. 1858 y una de 1860)
Item 5 Confirmaciones, Libro 3 (filmado fuera de orden), 1901-1919
I cannot see any reason these records would be restricted for privacy reasons.
Perhaps @Diego Hernandez_1 could email the Family History Library on FHL-SLC-FilmRequests@churchofjesuschrist.org (given in the article https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-request-a-correction-to-the-familysearch-catalog)
I would ask @Maile L to pass on/ investigate why the DGS number was shown in the indexed record in a variant form, not just as 4647462. Also to point out to the new catalog engineers that DGS numbers are not listed at all. I cannot see any feedback button on the new catalog. Also there is nothing on the old catalog which indicates there is a new catalog. I'm not sure how you are supposed to access this if you don't already have a link to the new catalog bookmarked.
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Hi. I am out of town. I will look into this when I am back. Thanks for all your research!
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