Why are some images only available at a FamilySearch center?
I have been doing a lot of research in FamilySearch images lately and I don't understand why some of the images are not available when I am researching from home. All of the images are basically the same but at home I can't go back any further than 1866 and most of what I am looking for is in the 1830's and 1840's. Please explain why this is so. The images are not even available when I have placed them in my source box, I get this instruction to go view them at a FamilySearch library. It's rather frustrating.
Answers
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FamilySearch has to make contracts with the various record holders (cities, states, churches) to make copies of their records. Those record holders have the right to say where the records can be viewed. In some cases, it's for privacy, if the records are recent. This thread has some tips about how to know where to find records before you make a trip.
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One common non-privacy-related reason for access restrictions is if the record custodian uses full access to old records as a source of revenue. Another one is multi-item films: due to the high volume of material, FS enforces restrictions (be they privacy-related or otherwise) on an all-or-nothing, whole-film (or image group) basis. They're working on changing the latter, but it's slow.
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I could be mistaken but what I am looking at appears to be all the same film.
This is where I have been looking - Caloveto, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy 1882-1928
I am not sure how to tell if what is listed there is on different microfilms, and I don't know why only part of that film is visible at home.
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The records towards the end of that film would most likely be restricted for reasons of privacy of those who may be living. If any part of the film is restricted for those reasons, the entire film is restricted, unless it has been broken apart, as Julia mentioned.
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