Frequently Asked Questions

Hundreds of FamilySearch affiliate libraries are helping extend FamilySearch’s services to millions of patrons worldwide. Although FamilySearch manages the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 5,000 FamilySearch centers throughout the world, it recognizes the invaluable need for library affiliates to help more patrons make personal family history connections.
 
Affiliate libraries have access to FamilySearch’s digital genealogical collections that are otherwise accessible only through a FamilySearch center. Affiliate libraries may be a public or higher education library, archive, museum, cultural center, or genealogical or historical society.

Additional benefits which may be available when visiting an affiliate library are: open to the public usually more hours than most FamilySearch centers;  utilize historical records in the library’s historical and genealogical collection; access additional records through the library’s inter-library loan system; research assistance; and media conversion resources.

There is no cost to be an affiliate library.

Becoming an affiliate library grants you and your patrons access to over 2 billion digitized records, including approximately 400 million images that are currently not available to the public outside of an affiliate library or a FamilySearch center.

To consider becoming an affiliate library and to receive a copy of the agreement form, submit an email to affiliatelibraries@familysearch.org.

To become an affiliate library, the following items will be required:

• Fill out and return a signed agreement.
• At least one web-enabled computer workstation in a public area for patron access to FamilySearch.org. (Note: This computer does not need to be a dedicated workstation for FamilySearch use only.)
• A static IP address for the library. If your library uses multiple static IP addresses or a static IP address range, please provide each of those addresses or the range of IP addresses.
• A prominent link on the designated computer or library’s desktop menu to access FamilySearch.org. The link should be FamilySearch’s approved logo.
• A posted, visible certificate designating your library as a FamilySearch affiliate.
  

A book scanning associate is a library that participates in family history book scanning with FamilySearch and other libraries with genealogical collections. It does not matter whether your collection is large or small; all are welcome to participate. Current partners include public, special, and academic libraries.

Some partner libraries host a FamilySearch scan center. Others may supply content by sending books to a scan center to be scanned.

The contributing library for all books on the website is clearly identified. We also provide monthly statistics on usage for books from a partner library.

FamilySearch provides all the equipment and resources to digitize the books. The libraries help provide content.

For questions about scanning books or visiting a FamilySearch book scanning center, please email us at digitallibrary@familysearch.org.

It is possible to be both an affiliate library and a partner library. If you are interested in becoming an affiliate library, please email affiliatelibraries@familysearch.org for more information.

For questions about scanning books or visiting a FamilySearch book scanning center, please email us at DigitalLibrary@familysearch.org.

The purpose of FamilySearch and these programs is to help all people of the world discover, gather, and connect their family—past, present, and future.

Controlled digital lending is an option that some companies (for example Internet Archives) do to circulate copyright books. Currently FamilySearch does not participate in controlled digital lending.

FamilySearch does not participate in interlibrary loans. To find other locations that a book may reside, go to: http://www.worldcat.org/

On FamilySearch, some images have restrictions or limitations that determine who can see them or where you can see them. You can view some images at a third-party company site, sometimes for a fee. In some cases, you can gain access by visiting a FamilySearch center or an affiliate library.

Click here for a list of the possible restrictions that you can see as you use historical records.

FamilySearch only publishes copies of records after gaining permission from the original record custodian (generally a government agency) and faithfully abiding by all the stipulated conditions and applicable laws. To maintain these standards, FamilySearch occasionally changes access to specific records. If you cannot find a record that was previously accessible, it is likely due to one of these reasons.

FamilySearch’s model for preserving and providing access to the world’s historical genealogical records is to work with record custodians to provide the broadest access to such records for the most people possible.

In other words, we strive to attain applicable legal permissions to publish record collections that yield the greatest access allowed in each instance. If full public access cannot be attained for specific record collections, FamilySearch works to provide free access to those records through its FamilySearch centers and FamilySearch affiliate libraries and may also seek online access for specific groups.

As a nonprofit organization funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch may seek access for members of the church when broader access is not granted by the record custodian.

The IP address you provided receives special status and is activated on our domain. This allows your institution to access additional records that are otherwise restricted.

To verify this, from your location, the following URL is for a restricted collection:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007458800?cat=693839

If you are signed in to the website, this URL should pull up thumbnail images. This verifies you have the special access.

Note: For step-by-step instructions to verify record access, go to the Affiliate Library Support page and review Image Access Diagnostics for Affiliate Libraries.

Currently FamilySearch is not able to provide institutional accounts. All patrons will need to have their own personal FamilySearch account to view the limited access records at your facility.

Patrons should be able to use a personal computer while accessing the library's wi-fi. Sometimes libraries will use a rotating IP (not static) address for the wi-fi. If that is the case, patrons cannot view restricted records on their personal devices in the library.

FamilySearch affiliate library data usage reports are available upon request. You may send your request to affiliatelibraries@familysearch.org.

FamilySearch offers a wide range of activities to engage individuals and families in family history. Librarians and patrons are welcome to participate in FREE online consultations with genealogy professionals, use the FamilySearch Library record lookup service, watch over 1,000 research webinars (new live webinars are available monthly), and explore the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

For all these resources and more, go the Affiliate Library Resources page.

When a new FamilySearch affiliate library has been approved, a certificate acknowledging their affiliate library status is sent. To request a new copy of the FamilySearch affiliate library certificate, email affiliatelibraries@familysearch.org.

As more images become available online, periodically reevaluate whether to retain FamilySearch microfilm holdings.

FamilySearch microfilms or microfiche in your affiliate library are on loan and are the property of FamilySearch. Long-term loans also belong to FamilySearch. Do not donate, give away, sell, or relocate microfilms or microfiche to another facility, individual, or organization without permission.

Please return any unneeded microfilm or microfiche to FamilySearch. For instructions, click here.

Any microfilms or microfiche in your center or affiliate library are on loan and are the property of FamilySearch. Long-term loans made to individuals also belong to FamilySearch. Do not donate, give away, sell, or relocate microfilms or microfiche to another facility, individual, or organization without permission.

The copyright holder or records custodian maintains rights of ownership. The record custodian gives the Church license to copy the records and circulate microfilms to the FamilySearch Library or as digital images.

To view other frequently asked questions about FamilySearch microfilm or microfiche, click here.

To find other FamilySearch affiliate libraries, you can use the location map. To search the location map, click here.

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. We are a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use our records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 125 years. People access our services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 5,000 FamilySearch centers in 129 countries, including the main FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

To learn more about the Church's sponsorship of FamilySearch, click here.