Are links to Scans in Bapt/Marr/Bur books permanent?
Hi, I use the excellent FS services a lot for research of my ancestors and like to document my findings as much as possible by providing the https link of the found scan of the bapt/marr/bur book and page.
Are the https links I find today subject to change in the future?
For instance: Dutch book, religion Dutch Reformed, province Drenthe, community Norg, church records 1580-1890, image 14 links to https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L94V-WHB?i=13&wc=MCLR-Q38%3A381457701%2C381513501%2C381516701&cc=2037882
Can this scan be accessed, also in the future, when I provide this https link, or am I at risk that this link will be useless some day?
regards, Peter
Answers
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Peter
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Short Answer 1: 'Yes' ...
Short Answer 2: Hopefully; but, there can be no guarantee ...
The whole problem/issue is, that Records (ie. both, Indexing; and/or, Image), can both, come and go, in 'FamilySearch'.
The reason why Records (ie. both, Indexing; and/or, Image), can both, come and go, in 'FamilySearch', are varied. There are many reasons; but, always remember, it is ultimately the Record "Custodian" who dictates, whether or not, Records (ie. both, Indexing; and/or, Image), will/can be available in "FamilySearch'; and, that includes, even, at a later date - circumstances and situations "Change".
Nothing is set in stone ...
Best advice ... "Download" a "Copy" of the "Image", if available/allowed; and, retain for your research.
Here is a "Knowledge Article" in 'FamilySearch':
Why did some historical records disappear from FamilySearch?
I hope that this gives you some perspective.
Brett
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My advice is to always download any images that you feel you might need to refer back to in future. It is easy to save individual pages as jpeg files.
I have often found links to the original documents do not work, because either:
(1) as Brett says, the record custodian withdraws the authorisation that had allowed FamilySearch to put these images online, or
(2) I had attached the images whilst at a Family History Centre or Affiliate Library and they had a restricted status that prevented me viewing them once I arrived home.
In the case of (2), for some time I have carried a memory stick wherever I go, so I can download the images before leaving the FHC / library.
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I will note that theoretically, the "ark" in the URL indicates a commitment to permanence/continuity; such an address is supposed to always resolve to the intended page, regardless of website reorganizations and such. However, such archival commitments cannot account for outside forces, such as withdrawal of permissions from the record custodian, so the advice to save the image to your own media is sound.
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