Thought you might have an interest in the following message.
Connie
-----Original Message-----
(snipped)
Hi,
My home computer has gone away for repairs, so I hope I'm not simply
repeating what you've already seen today! I'm reposting this information
from the Perry list owner with her permission. Just delete if you've seen
this multiple times!
Becky
lambertr(a)clinton.afsc.k12.ar.us (day)
lambertr(a)cei.net (evening)
As the director of a LDS Family History Center, I have received a notice
from
Salt Lake LDS FHL, announcing the Beta testing of Family Search on line.
It is
not yet up, a problem with a piece of equipment, but will be starting
sometimes
this month and will be up only a few weeks as a test run.
I saw a posting from a lady on the FHC mailing list saying she had talked
to a
man who was part of the planning committee for this site, and he said it
was
going up to see how many people would use it. If there is not a lot of
interest
it will be taken off and not put back on. So spread the word and keep
trying to
get through.
When it comes on line the URL will be
www.familysearch.org
I have not been told exactly what will be available but know at least the
Ancestral File and Family History Library Catalog will be included.
Family Search is the name of the program we have on CDs in all LDS FHCs .
Some
public libraries also have this program.
FS includes the IGI, Ancestral File, Family History Library Catalog, Social
Security Death Records, Koran and Vietnam war death records, and Scottish
Church
Records.
For those of you not familiar with the various searches, the IGI is the
International Genealogical Index. It includes, in alphabetical order, all
of
the names that have been sent to the Temples to have ordinances performed
in
their name. [we believe the people still have their free agency to accept
or
refuse the work]
Names in the IGI are usually submitted by members, but not always.
Non-members
also submit their family names to get them into the IGI.
Some of the marriages may have been part of extraction programs. The names
were
taken from courthouse records and checked and rechecked by several
volunteers
before being accepted as correct.
Most people do try to send in accurate information but there are many
mistakes.
My advice is, always check the original source. Use the IGI to find where
people with your surname would have lived and order the census and court
records
from that area.
Ancestral File is Gedcoms of group and pedigree sheets sent in by members
and
non-members. The name and address of the submitter is included and
hopefully
will allow you to contact others working on your line. If the address is
out of
date sometimes a letter to the Membership dept. in Salt Lake will get you a
correct address if the person was a member of the LDS church.
Once again, the material is only as good as the research that went into it
and
some of it is pretty bad. Check it out before you 'adopt' it.
If you find a mistake on Ancestral File, you can send in your corrections,
along
with your sources of proof, and it will be noted in the next update. The
first
submitter does not have to provide proof, but you do, if you are making a
correction. You can add additions to a file, or submit a new file. You do
not
have to be a member to submit material. I am sure instructions for
submitting
will be included on the web-site.
The LDS Church is run mostly by volunteers and there is not the time or man
power to check each submission. Many of the people working in the SLC FHL
in
Salt Lake City, or going into various states and countries to record this
information, are Missionaries, who not only are not paid to do this, they
have
to pay their own expenses and devote 18 months to 2 years, away from their
families so the rest of us will be able to read the fruit of their labors
at our
own local LDS FHC.
The Family History Library Catalog is a listing of every book, film and
fiche
available at the Salt Lake City LDS Family History Library. This allows
us to
find what is available for each locality, world-wide. It includes the FHL
call
numbers and a description of what is included in the film/fiche or book.
The material from the books and film/fiche will not be on line. That is
not
something they can do, at this time. Hopefully it will be a possibility
some
time in the distant future.
The film and fiche will still have to be ordered through FHC. Microfilm
and
microfiche are the property of the FHL and are sent into the care of the
LDS FHC
director and must remain under her/his care until returned. For this
reason
they are never allowed to be taken from the LDS FHC.
Almost all of the microfilm and microfiche at the LDS Family History
Library in
Salt Lake City can be ordered into any LDS Family History Center, anywhere
in
the world, but there are a few exceptions. Copyright laws prevent them
from
using material without the written consent of the owner. Some of the film
and
fiche where filmed by companies other than the LDS Church and permission to
circulate these film to LDS FHCs has been denied. There will be a notice
included in the description, saying it can not be circulated. Many of the
SC
microfilm where made by a company who has refused permission to allow the
film
to be circulated, but there are many microfilm available for SC, some
covering
the same material that is on the restricted film.
The LDS FHL is a non-profit organization, and that is why it still cost
only 15
cents a sheet for a microfiche, $3.25 plus tax to rent a microfilm for a
month
[may be more in other countries] and the SourceGuide and other home use
programs
are sold at such a reasonable price. We aren't allowed to make a profit,
even
in the FHCs.
The books that are listed are not loaned out but can sometimes be obtained
through an Inter-library loan through your public library. You can request
copies of pages and if a book is indexed, by ordering the index you can see
if
your people would have been listed.
In cases where the copyright has expired the book may have been filmed or
can be
filmed upon request. Never hurts to ask.