Locked catalog images not viewable at a Family History Center.
I am a volunteer and frequent patron at my FHC. Today (Thursday, 3 June 2021), during my weekly FHC visit, I noticed I was unable to view some FamilySearch images from the catalog. These are viewable only at an FHC – the locked images with a key icon. I have been able to see these “locked” images during all my previous FHC visits. A patron had the same problem with a different collection. In our efforts to understand the problem, we discovered two of my fellow volunteers could see the records. We tested our individual abilities to see the same film with images only viewable at an FHC. The patron and I have FamilySearch accounts as non-Church members. My two fellow volunteers who were able to view the locked images have FamilySearch Church member accounts. So, our ability to view these locked records seems to be determined by the type of FamilySearch account we each have. This is a new problem, not happening as recently as a week ago.
Now non-Church member patrons who come to our FHC wishing to view a locked image can not do so with their own FamilySearch account.
Is this something new? Or maybe a glitch?
Comments
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Can you post a URL for the catalog entry for these series of records.
It could be that the viewing conditions have changed which you can tell from the catalog restrictions. If the catalog shows that it is still viewable for non church members at a FHC, then it sounds like a bug.
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Thank you Maureen. We tested this with two or three different collections each with the same result.
Specifically, film # 2293829 (DGS 4924373), a locked film within the collection "Orleans Parish, Louisiana Marriage licenses/certificates, 1870-1942." This collection was filmed at the Louisiana State Archives. This same collection has both locked and unlocked films - records dated 1915 forward requiring a visit to an FHC. Prior to yesterday, these items were viewable for non-Church members within an FHC.
Another patron was interested in viewing a collection authored by the Connecticut State Archives. I believe he was looking at film # 1029520, item 2 (DGS 7899261).
Again, I don't believe this problem is collection-specific. Somehow non-Church member FamilySearch accounts are now unable to view locked films within an FHC.
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@AC Tassin , for many years there have been records that non-Latter Day Saints either cannot access or have less favorable terms (e.g. having to go to a FHC while Latter Day Saints can view it at home). This has been a controversial issue and you can find many heated discussions on this forum about it.
Since 2019, the FamilySearch website has not explicitly acknowledged that this is happening. When you see the message "To view these images do one of the following: You may be able to view this image by visiting one of our partners' sites or the legal record custodian (fees may apply)" it means that only Latter Day Saints can view the records. Any references to "members of supporting organizations" means members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
If this turns out to not be a glitch, then it means there has been a change in the contract between the record owner(s) and FamilySearch. If State Archives in the United States are involved in giving Latter Day Saints more favorable access than the rest of the population they are almost certainly breaching the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.
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@A van Helsdingen , thank you for this. I don't believe any of this is the issue here. But the background is interesting. I've been volunteering for years, and have been blessed by the Church's family history films since the early 1990s.
I honestly believe this is a glitch, suspiciously occurring at the same time the FHC portal was taken down for premium account access improvements. It must be unrelated to the premium accounts as my fellow volunteers, with church member FamilySearch accounts were able to access the images.
I have not been able to find a way to contact the techs at FamilySearch. If you or anyone else has any contact information for them, please let me know. As more FHCs open in the weeks ahead, this limitation will impact more people.
Aaron
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Staff members can and do respond on this forum. If they don't respond within a few working days in Utah, then I suggest sending a message to FamilySearch Support. If you don't hear anything back from them within a week or so, I recommend (having had much success with this in the past) using the Live Chat feature and asking for a reply to your message as soon as possible.
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As a non Church member, for film # 2293829 I get the message "To view these images do one of the following: Access the site at a family history center"
For # 1029520 the message is "Access the site at a family history center. Access the site at a FamilySearch affiliate library"
So if only church members can access these records, it definitely sounds like a bug which was introduced due to the seemingly unrelated upgrade which you mentioned.
I would agree with A van Helsdingen that you need to contact Support.
If you are in North America there is also a Group Family History Center Technical Support (North America)
https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/76-family-history-center-technical-support-north-america
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Here is the text of the Message that was sent to the FHC's on June 2nd with regards to microfilm and portal access.
Planned Maintenance for the Family History Center Portal
As you prepare to open your family history center, please be aware that limited access collections and partner websites accessible through the Family History Center Portal (see list), may be temporarily unavailable for up to 90 days due to needed system-wide maintenance and updates. This will only impact limited access collections and Family History Center Portal sites. All other collections and services will be available.
We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding. We will let you know when limited access collections and partner websites are available. Please note the Family History Library staff in Salt Lake City, Utah, will have the ability to search limited access collections during this period and are prepared to offer patron assistance online. To consider this option, patrons should explore the free virtual consultations and free records look-up services.
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Great information Suzanne. Directly on point with this question is the description, "...limited access collections..."
Thank you!
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And thank you also Maureen, the answer to this question is in the second Announcement from the top. I just joined the Technical Support group too. Oh boy, this one sure had me scratching my head. Still can't explain why the Church member FamilySearch accounts worked Thursday. But, this information from you and Suzanne solved the mystery as to the access.
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