Record being pulled from online access?
First - I understand that the centers are closed, but my question is about why the catalog is no longer showing online availability of records that existed previously:
For several years I used a set of records at my local family history center - these records were available digitally. I've been using Antenati now for further research, but there are some years not available on Antenti that were available online at the center. When I went back to double check what years were available, the series is no longer marked as digital--there is only the image of the film reels with the note that the reels are only available in Salt Lake City.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/412404?availability=Family%20History%20Library
I've checked a few other towns I was researching as well - same thing. Can someone tell me what happened? Were the records pulled? I hope I'm just missing something and these records are not gone for good.
Respostas
-
That is very strange. I confirm the films you mentioned are now showing as only available on microfilm. I checked a set of digital records for another town in Italy that I have been researching and they are now indicated as only available on microfilm. I used them within the last month, I believe, on-line from my familysearch account.
I suspect there is a technical issue making them show incorrectly (but that is only a guess).
0 -
Thanks for answering. It makes me feel better that someone else is seeing the same thing, for material used recently. I haven’t checked in some time so I was concerned that records have been removed permanently. I hope it is a technical issue as you said, I still have a lot of research to do!
0 -
The archives in Europe Italy and Germany included as well as others are now digitalizing the original records in their archives. Lutheran records can be found on Archion, Catholic records can be found on Matricula and of course Italian records found on Antenati. The reeocred are much clearer than those on microfilm because they are digitialized from the original record not from microfilm. The Family History center has complied with the archives wishes that they not have the microfilm records on line as the archive records are on line on the 3 websites listed above. However they microfilm records can still be seen at the family history center.
0 -
Thanks for your response- is this the official answer (is there notification so where about this?) I was told at one point that the records being published on Antenati are from a different source than the ones published by the Family History Center, and I wish I could remember the details. If this is truly the case, it’s a shame because the coverage on Antenati is different, and those records are now lost to researchers. With libraries no longer ordering microfilm for viewing locally, the microfilm is essentially useless.
0 -
I believe the explanation is that this is about money. I understood that these archives are pulling the records so they can be on some paid sites, since Family Search is FREE. It's a very complex issue that has been most frustrating to all of us working in Italy, but Family Search has to honor the desires of the archives and as contracts are renewed big changes are possible. I hope that clarifies a rather muddy issue. I cannot imagine a more challenging job that to work on the contracts with the archives! Antenati does not currently charge and I believe they are adding more records all the time so be patient and they may show up!
0 -
Thanks for your answer. Antenati is also free...so I’m not sure it’s about monetizing content but you’re right that whatever contracts exist have to be honored, and they can change. But I have also been given the explanation that the website has been (incorrectly) showing records that are available online as microfilm only. I guess I’ll have to wait to see if they revert back once the libraries open back up, or if they are truly gone for good. Hoping it is the former!
0
