Obtaining records at local family history center
What types of information is available at local family history centers that I cannot view using my own subscription to Ancestry and or any other websites? ie. Would I be able to view documents thru the computers at the centers?
Answers
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There are literally millions of record images that are not indexed and are only available to view at a FamilySearch Center and/or Affiliate Library.
What you may find depends on when and where you are researching. As an example, I have several families who settled in Alabama. Alabama death certificate images are not online but are indexed. When you go to your AL or FSC, you can see and download the images.
I often go to my FSC to view land records, from a variety of states, that are not viewable from home. Records from some countries can only be viewed at an FSC. The contract with the record holder (the city/state/country/church) controls where the records can be viewed.
If you would like to give us more information about what time period or locations you are researching, we may be able to give you more specific help.You can use one of the Center's computers or take your own laptop.
Hope this is useful and good luck with the search!3 -
I know that you cannot see the images associated with the various LDS Worldwide Census records from home. You can only see them at an authorized FamilySearch Center.
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LDS Census images are available at FSC (FamilySearch Centers) and AL (Affiliate Libraries).
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I was recently looking at the Full-Text Search and noticed that nearly half of the records for Indiana cannot be viewed at home. They are available at the FamilySearch centers. This is due to the restrictions set in the agreements with FamilySearch. Some other states that are significantly restricted are Illinois (36%), Utah (36%), Alabama (25%), Louisiana (21%), Rhode Island (20%), and Hawaii (20%). There really is value in going to a FamilySearch Center when possible.
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