What is the implication of the note sent earlier this week about 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."
Does this apply to all affiliates as well. Does it apply to Church member access as well?
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As I understand it, Affiliate Libraries do not have the "Portal." The access they have to some restricted images is through a different connection.
I hope this helps.
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What a church member can do at home on their personal computer is what is available to them.
The Family History Center has portal undergoing maintenance; therefore in a FHC building no premium websites and no restricted film access for members and nonmembers alike.
An Affiliate Library associated with the FHL has their ususal restricted image ability; not affected by the maintenance being done in a Family History Center building. Member or nonmember can go to an Affiliated Library and see restricted images that the AL has access to.
To assist all affected by this downtime, the Family History Library in Salt Lake is mentioning again their 2 services which might be of benefit to FHC patrons. 1) Consultation - virtual genealogy consultation and 2) FHL Look Up service - "Guest resources at the FHL " click on that, Resources for Families, wards and stakes within that list is
FHL Look up services click on that and isee nstructions and a form to fill out
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Answers
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Relevant information should be placed in the banner at the head of the FamilySearch Catalog page https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog
so that people do not travel unnecessarily to FamilyHistory Centers, only to find they cannot access the records.
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I am concerned that access to records that have been under limited restrictions will affect the value and usefulness of the FHCs. If records cannot be accessed by a patron at an FHC but can be accessed through an affiliate library, why have the FHC? Access to the Portal is not the critical element here. The access to restricted records is. Are more restrictions being implemented?
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"By contract with some of our information providers, FamilySearch does not have rights to share all images with our affiliate libraries. In addition affiliate libraries do not have access to restricted images in the Books section of FamilySearch."
Not all things that are available in a Family History Center are not available to Affiliate Libraries
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I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
And, one who has worked in "Family History Centres" of the Church, for a long time ...
DO NOT panic ...
We have been advised that ...
This is ONLY "Temporary" ...
For ESSENTIAL Planned (system-wide) Maintenance (and, updates) for the "Family History Centre", 'Portal' ...
This will NOT affect the value and usefulness of the "Family History Centres" (FHC) of the Church ...
My 'Locale' FHC (ie. here "Downunder") had "Reopened" way BACK in about September 2020 (LAST Year) ...
Our 'Locale' FHC (and, other FHCs, "Downunder") will be affected much MORE than most, in the MANY Parts of the World, where FHCs are still "Closed".
The "Family History Centres" of the Church (all around the World) can STILL be used for "Temple and Family History" Work; and, research; and, training; but, just NOT with access to, either, the (FREE) Premium Websites; and/or, "Restricted" Materials (eg. Films).
Again, do not panic ...
Just my thoughts ...
Brett
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Oh so true Brett. Good thinking and no need to be dismayed! This will not last forever!!
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All of your kind comforting words do not impact us in the way that you imagine. We have far fewer members doing ordinances than doing actual research. There are many affiliate libraries that supplant our ability to provide a service. Our one unique characteristic is our library of films and access to restricted records being able to triangulate restricted records with the films and unique filing reference materials we have in the record sets in which we specialize. I guess I don't understand how the restricted records are tied into the portal - because you can circumvent the portal and just log into FamilySearch...
I've already traded emails with David Rencher about this. He knows my concerns...
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FIRSTLY ...
I am not quite sure way you mean by your opening sentence ...
[ I am not that scholarly ... ]
SECONDLY ...
Your "Family History Centre" is not alone ...
As far as I am aware ...
ALL, "Family History Centres", all around the World, get MORE Patrons who are NOT Members of the Church.
[ Well ... possibly ... with the EXCEPTION of some in Utah, maybe ...]
I know that such is the case, with just about ALL the "Family History Centres", here "Downunder".
I know; as, I have either, worked; or, visited, quite a number in, at least, x4 States and Territories here.
My current 'Local' "Family History Centre" is NO exception.
WHY do you consider that your 'Local' "Family History Centre" is ANY different to the rest?
THIRDLY ...
'No', you are totally INCORRECT ...
The "Affiliate Libraries", all around the World, definitely DO NOT 'supplant', the ability of the "Family History Centers" of the Church, all around the World, to provide a service.
As far as I am aware, MOST of the "Affiliate Libraries", all around the World, DO NOT have/get the SAME ('Level' of) access to "Restricted" Records (and, the like) that the "Family History Centres" of the Church, all around the World, do.
FOURTHLY ...
Generally, ALL "Family History Centres" of the Church, all around the World, tend to SPECIALISE in certain things, relative to their "Location".
Even in the various "Family History Centres" (in the Stakes/Districts) of the Church, in my City, all SPECIALISE in DIFFERENT things.
But ...
That said ...
They also have OTHER things that they have a need for ...
For example, my 'Local' "Family History Centre" has quite a Collection of, among other things, either, Films; and/or, Fiche; and/or, Books; and/or, Etc, on the 'Colony' of New South Wales, being the FIRST 'Colony' here "Downunder"; but, we also have a lot on, Samoa, Tonga and the Pacific Islands; as, we have a Samoan Ward and a Tongan Ward; plus, we also have a "Chinese" Branch.
FIFTHLY ...
It is NOT a matter of CIRCUMVENTING the 'Portal' of "Family History Centres" ...
ALL those various Premium Websites CAN be access through OTHER means, needless to say the actual Website themselves ...
The Church (ie. 'FamilySearch') DOES NOT have a monopoly on access to the various Premium Websites.
The ONLY thing that the Church (ie. 'FamilySearch') has SOME (and, ONLY some) 'Control" over is access to "Restricted" Records ...
And, naturally, apart from access to ACTUAL Church Records, that so called 'Control', is predicated upon the "Restrictions" applied to the Records, by the Record "Custodian(s)", from whom they have been obtained - NOT, the Church.
FINALLY ...
Again ...
DO NOT panic ...
We have been advised that ...
This is ONLY "Temporary" ... all-be-it may be up to x90 Days ... could be less ...
For ESSENTIAL Planned (system-wide) Maintenance (and, updates) for the "Family History Centre", 'Portal' ...
This will NOT affect the value and usefulness of the "Family History Centres" (FHC) of the Church ...
The "Family History Centres" of the Church, all around the World, can STILL be used for "Temple and Family History" Work; and, research; and, training; but, just NOT with access to, either, the (FREE) Premium Websites; and/or, "Restricted" Materials (eg. Films).
Just my thoughts.
Brett
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Maureen
'Yes' ... not a bad "Idea" about that (Header) "Banner" on the "FamilySearch Catalog" page/screen.
FYI
As an aside ...
At least, 'FamilySearch' NOW has such a (Header) "Banner" somewhere ...
"Find a Family History Center and FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries" page/screen
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If you are planning on visiting your local family history center, please be aware that limited access collections and partner websites usually accessible through the Family History Center Portal, will be temporarily unavailable due to needed maintenance and updates. Learn More.
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And, here is a "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch':
Public access to limited access collections in family history centers
That is a start ...
Brett
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