Online access to Microfilm due to COVID-19

LegacyUser

Christina Steel said: Now it has become necessary to practice social distancing, and research centres/churches etc are closed, I am not able to 'hire' access to restricted microfilm

This would be an appropriate time to review this arrangement and if possible, allow access to restricted records to a set time, for the usual fee.. Transportation costs sending film from Utah to Newcastle, NSW Australia, or even within Australia would be eliminated, off-set against the cost of copying film to an online format

I have found accessing microfilm difficult for some years now as my local church library, at Charlestown NSW Australia is only open one afternoon per week.

I do appreciate there may be commercial impediments to what I have suggested.

LegacyUser

A van Helsdingen said: Are you asking FS to restore loaning of physical microfilms?

That is just as impossible at the moment as accessing digital microfilms, as all the FHCs are closed.

Unfortunately, FS cannot make restricted records available to home computers without the permission of record owners. Ancestry has done a deal with the US Archives to make 500 million records temporarily available for free, but FS has not yet announced anything similar.

LegacyUser

Brett said: Christina

Firstly, "Welcome" to this "FamilySearch" ( "GetStaisfaction" ) 'Feedback' Forum.

Secondly, "Official 'FamilySearch' Representatives", do monitor; and, sometimes, participate in, this Forum.

Thirdly, I am just another User/Patron, just like yourself (and, happen to be a Member of the Church).

Many Users/Patrons who regularly participate in this Forum who have a great deal of knowledge and experience with "FamilySearch", like to assist/help other Users/Patrons like yourself; as, is evidence by the previous response.

Finally, you are not alone ...

Please refer to the following post in this "FamilySearch" ("GetSatisfaction") 'Feedback' Forum, of 12 Days ago, by "FamilySearch" ...

Requests for access to records during temporary closings
https://getsatisfaction.com/familysea...

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

Brett

from "Down Under"

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