Images no longer available on a record.
Hello everyone! Are images to (some) indexed records taken down at some point and then made available sometime in the future, or no? I ask this because some months back, a record of an ancestor used to have an image attached to it; a Church member was kind to download the image and send it to me, although they saved it in low resolution and the image ended up blurry. Recently searched the record again and it no longer has the image attached. Records are Philippine records and I understand the Data Privacy Act was issued some years back, so maybe that has something to do with it? Thanks!
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@D RVictoria FamilySearch has provided the following information: "Access to records is regulated by contract with the archive and business partner the data is received from. The terms of these agreements may change over time. In some cases, FamilySearch does not receive permission to publish images or complete index records on our site."
Are you logged into FamilySearch when trying to view the record?
Was the record ever attached to a specific individual on FamilySearch? If so, who? (please provide the ID number for that individual)
More information can be found on the following link:
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I'm sure there can be different reasons for this happening. Last year, I found I no longer had access to certain images I had attached to my relatives. These were image-only records relating to a number of parishes in a particular English county. I checked the collection (parish name) index and found whole parishes had vanished from under the main heading. However, about six months later I read (in the FamilySearch Blog) that thousands of images had been "added" to the collection in question. When I rechecked, these included the ones that had (temporarily) disappeared!
The most likely reason for sources (indexed or image-only) to disappear does seem to relate to withdrawal of permission for FamilySearch to display them. However, occasionally their disappearance could be due to an update, a misunderstanding, or even a renegotiation of the contract involved. So, I would never assume these records had disappeared from FamilySearch "forever" and keep an eye for them reappearing at some future date.
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Ahh, I thought so. Yes, I'm logged into FamilySearch when viewing the record. The image was not attached to the individuals' record per se, but in records under Search.
This is where it used to say image available but restricted to view: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FNFB-48V
Jorge Fino LD6T-1SW and Francisca Mercado LD6T-1SW
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I am a non LDS Church member. I suspect the issue here is that the records are now only viewable by LDS church members, and LDS consultants have now been told not to provide images.
I just wrote a reply on a very similar question
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So, can you view it now? I can see the record when I click on your link. Please let me know if you can view it.
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The only differences that should be in place for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those who are not is that which is specific to the church ordinances. All records should be available to anyone using FamilySearch. There are no restrictions on viewing digitized records except what I posted above. If there are restrictions, they are from the specific repository the images came from, or problems with links, but not restrictions put on who can view the documents as long as they are in the public domain.
If you have seen items before and then they are no longer there, please try to let someone know so it can be looked into and explained. I know I have had items disappear from my ability to view them and it is because it moved to a new collection title, there was a glitch in the system, or the repository or owner of the items wanted to make changes so it was taken off of online viewing.
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My reply, just posted, has disappeared into cyber space or (I hope not been censored?) Here is the 2nd version.
Certainly the situation in February 2021 was that for some records there were different viewing situations for LDS Church members and non church LDS members which were more generous for church members. I think it is unlikely the situation has changed since then, from February-May.
See the previous topic "Does anyone know why these Sersheim Church record images are not available at the FHL? I was connect" https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/80806/does-anyone-know-why-these-sersheim-church-record-images-are-not-available-at-the-fhl-i-was-connect
This topic just quoted also contains a reference to knowledge article ID:951 "What are the image restrictions in Historical Records?" where it is clearly indicated there is a member version and a non member version. https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/what-are-the-image-restrictions-in-historical-records
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HiI! Unfortunately, no, it still says 'Image Unavailable'. I attached a screenshot.
I'm not sure if the source country's restrictions has. I did contact Support a few years back and was informed that "In our agreements with record custodians, we try to get the broadest possible access for our users. However, the ultimate rights governing what access we can provide are granted by the record custodian and the laws of each country that govern access to records." I was just wondering why the image was no longer attached to the indexed record like there was none at all.
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Thank you so much for providing those links. I am happy to learn new information.
It seems that FamilySearch gives different access like many other sites depending on membership levels, etc. (I couldn't view all the newspapers I wanted at newspapers.com until I paid for a premium membership, for instance) It makes sense with the contracts in place, but it doesn't help you or others who may have limited access. I'm very sorry about that. I was grateful to have it explained so well in JeffWisemans' response lower down on the page.
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Another issue that can change the availability to view records is an update in an existing contract. some of the records were acquired long before the online presence even existed and the contract did not include that possibility. I understand that some old contracts are being reviewed and updated to be compliant with current technology and practices. Contract revision could result in changed viewability.
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FamilySearch has opened a new service! Records Look Up. I'm not sure it would apply to those not viewable by non-members or not, but if you find something that is only an index or if it says the image can only be viewed at a FH Center or the main Library, or if it is in a non-digitized book they have at the Library, you can fill out the form online and they will look it up and send you a digital copy! Isn't that amazing!? They started establishing the service because of Covid, but they will keep the service even after the Library opens up again. Wow!
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The situation in February 2021 was that there were certainly records which members of the LDS Church could view on their home computers, and which non LDS church members could not view at all.
I do not know if the situation has changed since then, but I suspect not.
A previous topic which illustrates this is "Does anyone know why these Sersheim Church record images are not available at the FHL? I was connect" https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/80806/does-anyone-know-why-these-sersheim-church-record-images-are-not-available-at-the-fhl-i-was-connect
It was also indicated that there were two different versions of the knowledge article ID:951 "What are the image restrictions in Historical Records?" depending whether you are a church member or a non church member. https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/what-are-the-image-restrictions-in-historical-records
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Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939. Images can no longer be accessed. The images are inaccessible even if I click on the option to search the entire collection of images. I am hoping this is a site error.
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The catalog record for the above set of records is https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/4092299
It is relevant to note that while some records in this series have a camera icon meaning images are viewable, most do not meaning images are not available. There seems to be an inconsistency here, either all should be available, or all unavailable, and this will depend on the current contract with the original archive "State Historical Society of Iowa"
I am not connected with FamilySearch, but I think this would probably be classified as a catalog error. I have also seen comments in FS Community that contracts for access are part of the catalog review (in at least some situations). Due to program enhancement the catalog is currently "locked". I suspect nothing will be done on this problem until the new catalog is introduced, expected to be sometime in 2022. You probably need to request again after the new catalog is introduced.
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You have made some interesting repeated comments about your concern your belief that some images are available to different groups of people, but you did not mention that it is not FamilySearch who sets the restrictions with how and where images can be viewed.
...and for everyone who is following this thread, please understand that those who own record collections are the one ones who set in place any restrictions. FamilySearch provides access to everything we are authorized to allow access to. If you are required to go to a Family History Center or an Affiliate Library, it is because the record custodians have negotiated a contract requiring that restriction. If one group of users can view records at home and others can't, again, it is because of a contract that has been put in place.
All users have the same right to go directly to the record owners if they wish to have access to records which show some type of restriction when you go to the FamilySearch catalog to find records. We always provide the location where the records actually reside on the catalog pages, and in some cases, the record custodians now have their own sites and users who would frequently need to access their records can do so by subscribing to their website.
The following knowledge articles from our Help Center are a reminder that we do our best to provide, free-of-charge, access to historical records from around the World, but we do not control who can see which collections. Our goal is to abide by the contracts that are negotiated so that we can continue to serve those who wish to do research about their ancestors.
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@CDBurk , what I think @MaureenE123 was saying is that there may be an error on FamilySearch's part in implementing the contract. There seems to be no pattern in which of the films are available and which are not. Of course, it may be possible that the record custodian negotiated that only a very specific set of records would be published, but that would be rather strange. I don't see why, for instances, certificates 1-5000 cannot be published but 5001-10000 can, unless there's a privacy law for some of the more recent birth records. Therefore it would be helpful if FS could verify that the restrictions have been set correctly.
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