FamilySearch centers, available in over 6,000 Church meetinghouses and regional facilities around the world, provide access to premium genealogy resources and records. These genealogy resources include many subscription-based family history websites.
The FamilySearch Center Premium Content browser extension, a tool used to access these resources, is now available for use in all meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the extension is used on the Liahona network. This extension makes family history resources more available to FamilySearch users worldwide, particularly in areas where access to a FamilySearch Center is limited or not available.
Read on to learn more about the guidelines for using this resource, what content it makes available, and how to set it up.
What Content Is Available via the FamilySearch Premium Content Extension?
Currently, 15 premium websites are available to FamilySearch users, subscription-free, via the FamilySearch Premium Content browser extension. With the extension enabled, users can also search limited-access record collections on FamilySearch.org that cannot be viewed from home. Here is a list of the premium resources available via the extension:
- 19th-Century British Library Newspapers
- Alexander Street
- American Ancestors
- Ancestry Institution (Ancestry.com)
- ArkivDigital
- FamNet
- Findmypast
- Fold3
- Geneanet
- Goldie May
- Irish Ancestors
- MyHeritage Library Edition
- NewspaperArchive
- Paper Trail
- Puzzilla
See this FamilySearch Wiki page for a description of each resource.
Responsible Use of Church Meetinghouses
A summary of recent updates to the Church's general handbook notes that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “encourage[s] the safe and responsible use of meetinghouses in ways that welcome and serve both members and friends and help all draw closer to Christ.” Please consider this guideline when helping both members of the Church and visitors use the browser extension and the resources it provides.
For guidance on encouraging meaningful activities in meetinghouses, Church members and local leaders of the Church may want to review the August 2023 update to the general handbook news release as well as the General Handbook, section 35.5: Policies on Using Church Meetinghouses.
In accordance with these guidelines, individuals, families, and groups can use the browser extension in meetinghouses at appropriate times. Internet bandwidth priority should be given for regular Church meetinghouse functions. Meetinghouses may also have specific hours or restrictions for when the building and internet network are available for use.
Church members and friends wishing to use Church meetinghouses for family history research should coordinate with local Church leaders or members with family history responsibilities. If users do not have a FamilySearch center in their area, they can find a Church meetinghouse by using this map.
Resources Available in FamilySearch Centers
The expanded access to the browser extension is intended as a secondary option for FamilySearch users. Accessing premium content in FamilySearch centers, when centers are available, is the primary option. FamilySearch centers often have experienced staff who have knowledge and training in using the premium services via the extension. They can help you learn which resources may be best for your needs.
Family history consultants and volunteers at FamilySearch centers can also help you learn how to use FamilySearch.org and can answer family history questions you may have. In addition, centers often provide fun, engaging, and uplifting discovery experiences for families, groups, and individuals and classes in subjects of interest. Many centers also have scanning and digitizing equipment to help you preserve your family’s memories.
How to Access the Browser Extension
As mentioned above, the FamilySearch Premium Content browser extension gives access to premium content only when it is used on the Liahona network at Church meetinghouses or in FamilySearch centers. It is available on Chrome and Firefox browsers. To learn how to set up the extension, visit this help page.
Visitors who wish to use the extension may need help from FamilySearch center staff or a local Church member to access the Liahona network.
At FamilySearch, we care about connecting you with your family, and we provide fun discovery experiences and family history services for free. Why? Because we cherish families and believe that connecting generations can improve our lives now and forever. We are a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To learn more about our beliefs, click here.
