Frequently Asked Questions

Thousands of FamilySearch affiliate libraries are helping extend FamilySearch services to millions of patrons worldwide. Although FamilySearch manages the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 6,000 FamilySearch centers throughout the world, it recognizes the 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 may be available in an affiliate library. Often, affiliate libraries are open to the public more hours than most FamilySearch centers, feature historical records in the library’s historical and genealogical collection, offer access to additional records through the library’s interlibrary loan system, and include possible research assistance and media conversion resources.

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

• A filled out and 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.

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.

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.

Any FamilySearch 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.

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.

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, watch over 1,000 research webinars (new live webinars are available monthly), and explore the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

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

To find your library on the map, click here.

If your facility is incorrectly listed on the map, send an email to affiliatelibraries@FamilySearch.org. Please include your library's name and address in the email.

If your library became an affiliate since January 2022, unfortunately the mapping software has changed, and we are currently not able to add new addresses. We apologize and are working with our engineers to get this fixed.

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 access from your location, click the following URL, which 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 display thumbnail images. The images verify that 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: https://www.FamilySearch.org/en/affiliates/support.

On the FamilySearch website, 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 3rd-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 may see as you use historical records.

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.

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.