Is there any way to have affiliate library access at home for remote work.
I work from home doing real estate title research for loans, etc. I have found amazing and helpful county public record information on FS. However, some of the images are locked to home users, but are available to affiliate libraries. I have 3 children in 3 different schools and getting to an affiliate library during their working hours is extremely hard with pick up and drop off schedules and extra-curricular activity schedules. Is there any way a home user can be granted affiliate access? Thank you so much for all your help!
Answers
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Whilst it would be best if you could receive a response from a FamilySearch employee relating to your request, my immediate feeling would be that it would not be granted.
There must be thousands of FamilySearch users who cannot get to an affiliate library: for reasons ranging from being completely housebound (through physical disability) to those who don't have one located within hundreds of miles of their home.
The only way I could possibly see your wish being granted is whereby you would be willing to open your home to members of the public (who have similar difficulties, and perhaps worse) and who could thereby share this facility with you.
Many of us can empathise with your situation (for personal reasons, I have not been able to attend my nearest affiliate since before the pandemic), but we have come to accept FamilySearch would not be able to display such records on its website at all if their partners were not satisfied that any restrictions of access (laid out in their contracts) were not being strictly adhered to.
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Depending on your local library system, you may not need to enter the library during open hours to access the affiliate library option.
My local library system (main downtown plus all neighborhood branches) is an affiliate library. They openly advertise that their wi-fi reaches the parking lots. In other words, I can pull into a parking spot, open my laptop, log into the library wi-fi, and then into FamilySearch. Then I can view limited-access images, early in the morning, late at night, even on holidays when the library buildings are closed.
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https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/familysearch-centers
You can use the FamilySearch Extension at any LDS meetinghouse using the Liahona network.2 -
Ok, so I'm seeing the local town library (possibly) and/or the local LDS meetinghouse via the Liahona wireless connection as two options for accessing the affiliate library options? That opens things up a bit.
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@David Alan Webber
To find out if your local library is an Affiliate, search here:1 -
I did some research last summer into Premium Content access from non-FamilySearch Center LDS buildings. This comment from another thread (ignoring the first paragraph) may perhaps help, e.g. re the specific wifi network (Liahona) you need to use:
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Thank you so much for your question! FamilySearch would love to make all records available everywhere, but some collections are restricted by legal agreements with the record custodians. Because of those contracts, affiliate‑level access can only be provided inside the physical building of an affiliate library using its static IP address.
Unfortunately, FamilySearch cannot grant affiliate access to home users, even in situations where travel or schedules make library visits difficult.
You might consider checking the hours of nearby FamilySearch Centers or asking your local public library whether they would be interested in becoming an affiliate, which is free and often provides more flexible access for the community.
We know these restrictions can be frustrating, and we truly appreciate your efforts and the work you’re doing.
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If your local library is interested in becoming an Affiliate Library, see https://www.familysearch.org/en/locations/affiliates/onboarding
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