Not all films are completely indexed, so a digitized film you find in the catalog can contain both indexed and unindexed information. The catalog system cannot determine if a film is completely indexed. If any portion of a film is indexed, all items on the film, including items not yet indexed, show the magnifying glass icon.
Similarly, when you look at the list of record collections, some collections only have partial indexes.
When you click the magnifying glass icon, you are able to search only the indexed portion of a film or collection.
If you click the magnifying glass icon and do not find the information you need, here are some options to try:
- Check to see if other family history websites have indexes or digital images for the collection. If you have no accounts for other websites, many websites are available to use at our FamilySearch centers.
- If the item also shows a camera icon, click it to browse the film or collection images online.