Affiliate Library Support

FamilySearch affiliate library data usage statistics are available on demand. You may submit your request to affiliatelibraries@familysearch.org.

Historical Record Image Restrictions

On FamilySearch, some images have restrictions or limitations that determine who can see them or where you can see them. To view a list of the possible restrictions that you can see as you use historical records, click here.

Historical Records Access Limitations

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.

FamilySearch strives to attain legal permissions to publish record collections with the greatest access each circumstance will allow. 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.

Most access limitations come from the organization who owns or manages the original historical records. Others are most likely based on local data privacy laws. Limitations determine where and how FamilySearch can make the records available. We do our best to support these agreements and legal requirements so we can maintain the trust of our collaborators.

To determine whether a record you want to view has access limitations, click here.

Add Your Library to the Wiki

As an affiliate library you can create a page for your library within the FamilySearch Research Wiki, to promote your historical and genealogical resources. Instructions on how to set up a Research Wiki page can be found here. The Research Wiki ranks very high in Google searches and can be another opportunity to advertise your library on the internet.

Image Access Diagnostics for Affiliate Libraries

Use this process to diagnose problems accessing restricted images at affiliate libraries. Follow each step in turn.

(If the text for these steps does not appear in this section, scroll down further.)

Step 1

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Step 9

Image Access Diagnostics for Affiliate Libraries

Use this process to diagnose problems accessing restricted images at affiliate libraries. Follow each step in turn.

(The steps listed below are a repeat of the information above.)

If you have not yet submitted your list of IP addresses to FamilySearch, obtain the list from your IT staff. Submit it to FamilySearch by email at affiliatelibraries@familysearch.org. Until FamilySearch registers your list of IP addresses, you will not be able to access restricted images. Stop here.
If you have already supplied the list of IP addresses, have it ready for the following tests.
Pick a computer experiencing issues. Do all of the following steps on that computer.
Check the IP address.
1. Use one of these sites to find the external IP address of the computer. On the screen captures below, the location of the IP address is circled in red.
  1. WhatIsMyIP.com
  2. WhatIsMyIpAddress.com
2. Compare the IP address of the computer with the list of IP addresses from step 2.
3. If the IP address is not on the list, skip to step 9, “No Test Images Accessible.”
4. Obtain a screen capture of the website above that identifies the computer’s IP address.
Visit FamilySearch.org and log in with a FamilySearch account that exhibits the issue of failing to access restricted images.
Image tests:
1. Image URLs for use in subsequent steps:
2. Select each URL above to view its image (or thumbnails).
  1. If you do not have access to the image, a pop-up indicates where the image can be viewed. If an image should be accessible at an affiliate library, the pop-up will indicate that.
  2. If you can view all the images, then the IP address is configured correctly.
  3. If none of them are accessible, see step 9, “No Test Images Accessible,” below.
  4. If only some of the test images are accessible, contact FamilySearch. This document may be out of date. Or FamilySearch may be experiencing access problems.
Record Tests (Optional)
1. Record URLs for subsequent steps:
2. View each of the test records. Each should have a button on top of the image thumbnail.
  
  or
3. Select the button to see a pop-up indicating where the image can be viewed. If an image is accessible at an affiliate library, the pop-up will indicate that.
4. To view the images, select the image thumbnails of those accessible at an affiliate library.
  1. If you can view all the affiliate-accessible images, then the IP address is configured correctly.
  2. If none of them are accessible, see step 9, “No Test Images Accessible,” below.
  3. If only some of the test images are accessible, contact FamilySearch. This document may be out of date. Or FamilySearch may be experiencing access problems.
If some test images are accessible, but some nontest images that should be accessible are not, follow these steps:
1. Not all images accessible at a FamilySearch center can be viewed at an affiliate library. If an image is not accessible at an affiliate library, the pop-up will not list affiliate libraries as an option. The system is acting normally. Stop here.
2. Not all images previously accessible will remain accessible forever. If the pop-up does not list affiliate libraries, the system is acting normally. Stop here.
3. If the pop-up indicates affiliate libraries are an option, but the image is not accessible, FamilySearch may be having issues. Proceed to step 9, “No Test Images Accessible.”
No Test Images Accessible
1. Obtain a screen capture of the website from step 4.a that identifies the computer’s IP address.
2. Obtain a current list of IP addresses from your IT staff.
3. Obtain a screen capture of the page with pop-up shown when attempting to view an image.
4. Copy the URL of that page.
5. Send the 4 items above to FamilySearch.