Is there a way to view locked digitized records while family history library and affiliates are clos

abaracker1.5223826769752507E12

Is there a way to view locked digitized records while family history library and affiliates are closed?

A van Helsdingen

FamilySearch would need to negotiate temporary contracts to allow this to happen. Ancestry.com was able to do this with the US Archives (NARA), giving its users without a paid subscription free access to many of their records for a limited period of time. However FS was not successful at this (or may not have attempted to- there was opposition to this idea expressed by some members of the FS community). Where I live the Affiliate Libraries have reopened, but I appreciate that in some places this could be months away. Unfortunately, we will have to either be patient or find another way to view the records- often records are restricted because they are on a pay-to-use website.

Brett .

@AnnBaracker​ 

.

Ann

.

Short Answer: NO, unfortunately not.

.

Here is a post in the "FamilySearch" ("GetSatisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum, of 2 MONTHS ago, by "FamilySearch", on this matter, that anyone can access ...

.

Requests for access to records during temporary closings

https://getsatisfaction.com/familysearch/topics/requests-for-access-to-records-during-temporary-closings 

.

Quote:

----------

Thank you for your inquiry and suggestion. We have had several requests in this regard as a result of the temporary closing of our Family History Library and family history centers due to COVID-19 precautions. Due to contractual obligations, we unfortunately cannot offer expanded external access to records restricted to family history centers and affiliate libraries. We apologize for this inconvenience.

.

In the meantime, we encourage you to explore the vast record collections that are available on FamilySearch. Millions of new indexed records and images are added weekly. And if you haven’t used our new Explore Historical Images tools, you might be surprised at the potential discoveries you can make in our growing unindexed image collections.

.

We appreciate your patience, loyalty, and support,

.

FamilySearch Support

----------

.

And, here is an Image of the "Banner" at the TOP of the "Search/Records" in "FamilySearch":

.

.

And, here is a "Knowledge Article" in "FamilySearch" on the matter:

.

Access to restricted records during COVID-19 outbreak

https://www.familysearch.org/help/salesforce/viewArticle?urlname=Expanded-access-to-records-restricted-to-centers-and-libraries-due-to-COVID-19&lang=en

.

Quote:

------------------

Information

.

We have had several requests to remove record access restrictions as a result of the temporary closing of our Family History Library and family history centers due to COVID-19 precautions. Due to contractual obligations, we unfortunately cannot offer expanded external access to records restricted to family history centers and affiliate libraries. We apologize for this inconvenience.

. 

In the meantime, we encourage you to explore the vast record collections that are available on FamilySearch. Millions of new indexed records and images are added weekly. And if you haven’t used our new Explore Historical Images tools, you might be surprised at the potential discoveries you can make in our growing unindexed image collections.

. 

We appreciate your patience, loyalty, and support.

------------------

.

I know that this does not help; but, I hope it puts things in perspective ...

.

Brett

.