Records on CDs in FS Catalog at the Family History Library. Obsolete?
I noticed another topic Desktop link to CD won't open data in FHL main library in Salt Lake which I didn't properly understand, but it included the following from a "mod": "The Family History Department no longer provides nor supports any CD products for patrons nor for family history centers. Because of this, we are not certain that the Family History Library still has older equipment that can run the CD software".
As I have written elsewhere (not in FamilySearch) referring to records on CD at the Family History Library, in simple terms are records on CD still accessible at the Family History Library?
If still accessible it seems this is dependent on "older equipment" still working. What happens then?
Will the CDs be transferred to a new digital format, or will all the records on CD simply be thrown away?
Answers
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Are you possibly referring to those records that are only available while using a computer at the FHL? For example:
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Yes, that is the type of record I am referring to.
In view of the comments in the other topic Desktop link to CD won't open data in FHL main library in Salt Lake that the Family History Department no longer provides nor supports any CD products, and the reference to "older equipment" which the CDs appear to be dependent on to keep working, will the CDs be transferred to a new digital format, or will all the records on CD simply be thrown away?
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That's a question you need to ask of staff. Most of us here are simply other users.
Those databases have only ever been available at the FHL. It's not that you use the CD when you are there - the information from the CDs is on a restricted database only available there.
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I did not realise that some CDs had been converted to a restricted database as in the examplehttps://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/711036 you quoted above
My question probably should have been in respect of those CDs which are only available in CD format, not as restricted database, for example https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/833393
You also say "That's a question you need to ask of staff. Most of us here are simply other users" . How does one ask staff? I thought this Community was the way to ask questions.
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Yes Mark this is the right place to ask, member guests or staff may answer. Here's a link for you as Family Search no longer support CD's but you can access them through Historical records.
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Thank you for replying Dawn Lim, but having read the article you quoted, I do not believe it is relevant to my question. The article is about Family Search's own records which were years ago on CDs, which FamilySearch sold, and now are available as FamilySearch's online database.
The article does NOT appear to be about CDs which FamilySearch bought/obtains from other organisations/researchers and has available for researchers to use at the Family History Library. These CD records are NOT "available online in our records collection".
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Hi Maureen
If the FHL in Salt Lake were to have on hand an old PC that has a 32 bit operating system with a CD player then yes, you could still "Read" the data on the "old" Cd's. Most new computers have a 64 bit operating system.
As to what happens to the old CDs' We suggest that you phone the FHC on the number listed below.
I have old Cd's and use my old 32 bit computer to read them.
The number for the Salt Lake FHC is here, found in Google, so you might like to phone them and ask them.
1-801-240-6996
or check out the website here: https://www.familysearch.org/family-history-library/family-history-library-location
All the best
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Maureen, as the specific item you mentioned is a 17-volume book series, I checked the digitized book section of the FHL as well as WorldCat, hoping I might find it elsewhere, without success. It may be restricted by the record holder or copyright owner or it may be in the queue for digitization that can be accessed online - possibly at an FHC or only at the FHL. Many books have moved in that manner in the last couple of years.
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Thanks all for the comments, including phone contact for the Family History Library.
If a staff member reads this, it would be helpful to see a staff comment.
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