Links to Specific Pages of FamilySearch Digital Books Don't Function as Expected
Back in 2022, this issue was raised in https://community.familysearch.org/discussion/136049, but the discussion was closed without any resolution. When attempting to open a link to view a specific page of a FamilySearch Digital Book, the link's functionality is entirely dependent on your recent viewing activity (and this is true regardless of which web browser and/or version you are using). If you've viewed any other digital book (meaning a PDF in the FamilySearch viewer applet) within the previous 5 minutes or so, the link functions as expected and takes you to the desired page. However, if you haven't recently viewed a digital book, it redirects you to the information page for that item, then you have to click "View Inside", at which point it prompts you to login to FamilySearch again (even if you've recently signed in), then redirects you to the item's information page once more. At this point, when you click "View Inside" again, the viewer at least opens to the first page of the PDF, but not to the desired page number indicated in the URL you originally opened. [Sometimes along the way, it even redirects you to the Digital Library main search page, though I've struggled to consistently reproduce that behavior and can't figure out why it happens when it does.] Anyway, try opening:
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/456161/?offset=0&return=0#page=73&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=
After you've gone through the login motions and been redirected to the 1st page of the PDF (instead of the 73rd page, as indicated by the URL), opening the link a second time should actually take you to the 73rd page. Interestingly, if you log out of FamilySearch and try opening the link again, it will still take you right back to the 73rd page, without needing to login again. However, if you close and reopen that browser session at any point (even when logged in), it will have you go though all the same motions again, even if you login to FamilySearch again first.
Now, imagine you're trying to explain to a research collaborator how to navigate to a specific page of a book, especially if they're a step-by-step procedure-based user with many more years of life experience than computer experience.
Answers
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I am not connected with FamilySearch but I do have an interest in Digital Libraries
My experience over the years is that this Community is a "dead end" for anything connected to the digital library. In the past it has not been an area that the Moderators have referred on, and there is nothing to indicate anyone connected to the Digital Library ever read the posts. The main exception was years ago when someone (an employee) said there was going to be a Team looking at the Digital Library, and I spent quite a bit of time gathering together previous user comments and adding my suggestions, but this Team was never actually established as far as I am aware.
You may get some response if you write directly to the Digital Library, there is an email address at the bottom of this link https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/digital-library
However, in the past I have emailed the Digital Library, the last time with no response whatsoever, not even an acknowledgement. I do not think there is much interest in improving things for the user.
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If the concern is the clunkiness of the UI for Digital Library I would suggest sending feedback from the landing page. If the concern is the ability to search the Library, post those issues here.
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