Family History Library and Major Regional Family History Center Patrons to Receive Free Ancestry.Com Access

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch and by The Generations Network, Inc.:

FamilySearch and The Generations Network Agreement Give Patrons Access to More than 24,000 Ancestry.com Databases and Titles

SALT LAKE CITY — FamilySearch and The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com, today announced an agreement that provides free access of Ancestry.com to patrons of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the 13 largest regional family history centers effective today.

With this new agreement full access will be provided to more than 24,000 Ancestry.com databases and titles and 5 billion names in family history records. In addition to the Family History Library, the following 13 regional family history centers have been licensed to receive access to Ancestry.com:

• Mesa, Arizona
• Los Angeles, California
• Oakland, California
• Orange, California
• Sacramento, California
• San Diego, California
• Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Pocatello, Idaho
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Logan, Utah
• Ogden, Utah
• St. George, Utah
• Hyde Park, London, England

“We’re excited for our patrons to receive online access to an expanded collection of family history records on Ancestry.com,” said Don Anderson, director of FamilySearch Support. “Ancestry.com’s indexes and digital images of census, immigration, vital, military and other records, combined with the excellent resources of FamilySearch, will increase the likelihood of success for patrons researching their family history.” The Generations Network and FamilySearch hope to expand access to other family history centers in the future.

FamilySearch patrons at the designated facilities will have access to Ancestry.com’s completely indexed U.S. Federal Census Collection, 1790-1930, and more than 100 million names in passenger lists from 1820-1960, among other U.S. and international record collections. Throughout the past year, Ancestry.com has added indexes to Scotland censuses from 1841-1901, created the largest online collection of military and African American records, and reached more than 4 million user-submitted family trees. 

Free access is also available at Brigham Young University Provo, Idaho, and Hawaii campuses, and LDS Business College patrons through a separate agreement with The Generations Network.

“FamilySearch’s Family History Library in Salt Lake City is one of the most important physical centers for family history research in the world, and we are happy that patrons to the Library and these major regional centers will have access to Ancestry.com,” said Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of The Generations Network, Inc., parent company of Ancestry.com. “We’ve enjoyed a ten-year working relationship with FamilySearch, and we look forward to continued collaboration on a number of family history projects.”

About Ancestry.com (visit www.ancestry.com)
With 24,000 searchable databases and titles and more than 2.5 million active users, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to build their own unique family trees. The site is home to the only complete online U.S. Federal Census collection, 1790-1930, as well as the world’s largest online collection of U.S. ship passenger list records featuring more than 100 million names, 1820-1960. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including www.myfamily.com, www.rootsweb.com, www.genealogy.com and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive 8.7 million unique visitors worldwide and more than 416 million page views a month (© comScore Media Metrix, October 2007).

About FamilySearch
FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at FamilySearch.org or through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

Comments

[Sandy Coulter]

Shucks! The offer doesn't include sites in Texas!

[Robin in Short Pump]

Well I guess this also answers a question I've been wondering about. When I started researching oh-so-long-ago and lived in the L.A. area, the FHL in Santa Monica was a wonderful resource. In nearly 20 years, I've yet to visit Salt Lake and now I live on the East Coast, where the FHL in my town is small and has very little inventory on the shelves. I've been wondering if there is a large FHL somewhere in this area. From the above list, I'd say no.

[Steve]

So much for the East Coast.

[Tony Stapleton]

Interesting article, but as usual we Canadians get left out. You would think that at least the FHC in Toronto would be included.

[Steven]

Only West Coast FHC's? That leaves out three-fourths of the entire country...very short-sighted, TGN!

[Gerry Livers]

I don't see anything in the midwest - Kansas or Missouri.
Maybe beause several libraries are
buying" Ancestry.com?

[Bob Saunders]

The Oregon State Library in Salem provides access to Ancestry.com. Perhaps other state libraries do the same.

[Sandra Greenberg]

I sure would like to see the FHL here in Denver, CO have access to Ancestry.com.

[Janet Boom]

For the people in Denver, CO you have the Denver Public Library and the Federal Center. Both have Ancestry and it is free.

[Bill Staples]

I am a long time subscriber to Ancestry.Com. I have not been able to access the site for 5 days. Customer service has been no help. Tried to access by all routes including this newsletter link and on myfamily.com. Iget a blank screen.

[Bob Kramp]

I guess we on the East Coast can always fly into Hyde Park, London, for a few evenings of reseach on Ancestry.com

[Lynn/Arizona]

Everyone who doesn't have a regional FHC near by should check their city,county or state library systems. When they took Ancestry out of the FHC months ago my local Family History society called around and got a list of the local libraries that had access and published the list for the members. It will be a little less convenient than being able to look something up on Ancestry while using the FHC films but at least it will be free access.

[Marjorie/California]

And because my area is "close" to LA, we'll never have it here. Never mind that most of us living 125 miles from LA wouldn't go there on a bet. Huge disappointment here.

[Bill Buchanan]

Still, it is a nice Christmas present to those who live near those centers. And as it has been pointed out, many of the rest of us have access through a public library. Thank you Edmonton Public Libraries!
... The glass is half full!

[PT Limehouse]

I was sad to see that the Family History Centers had lost the connection with Ancestry.com. It was such a valuable asset. I hope that more FH Centers can get this again. I have found Ancestry.com to open up a whole new world for me when I was in SLC.

[Happy Dae]

Let's hope for success in the above thirteen areas. If you are reasonably near, visit one soon. Perhaps with good, solid support there will be more FHCs enabled with Ancestry.com. I consider myself fortunate to be near two fine public genealogy libraries, Dallas and Fort Worth, AND to have access to a regional NARA. If you need non-Ancestry.com lookups from my area, just leave me an email from my site.

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. (You, too, Mary.)

Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[Roger Rayborn]

Nothing east of Logan, Utah!

The Ancestry that public libraries have access to is usually not the full Ancestry subscripton, but only a subset of the complete databases. Definitely Ancestry Light!

[Hopalong50]

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon in Portland has Ancestry access in their library. If you're not a member, it's a small day use fee.

[Joanne Kellar]

The FHC's chosen for the free Ancestry access are because those areas have a high Mormon concentration. There are not many Mormons on the East Coast. But, with some FHC's getting the free Ancestry access, maybe others will in the future. Keep your fingers crossed.
Also, in regards to the Mary Christmas story. I had a customer whose name was Merry Christmas----showed me her driver's license to prove it.
Anyway, I wish you all a Merry Christmas (Happy Hanakkuh also) and the best in 2008 (fallen brick walls!!!)
Joanne

[Dale]

Canada is a much closer neighbour than England! Canada got a lot of people over the decades that came here and stayed. I live in Burnaby, BC and would have enjoyed free access to your site. I am a researcher but presently unemployed due to lack of funding from the present government.

Best wishes and good luck on the success of your site.

[Sharon]

Note to Bill Staples above: I had the same problem when I was an Ancestry subscriber. The solution is annoyingly simple: Clear all cookies and temporary internet files. Works like a charm! Good luck with your Family History research!!

[Michael Brock]

Again it seems that there is a feeling that the whole world consists of just the USA!! (And throw in London!! just for luck) Us Australians have even further to travel.

[margaret]

We didn't get it in Maine eather.
What is wrong with Utah we need that in our library,People
come in to use it and we don't have it so never see them again.
So we set all day no comes in.
So salt Lake do something for our FHC.
Thank You
Margaret

[Roland Carson]

Apparently the “Southern” half of the United States has been virtually forgotten, even though it is the fastest growing segment of the United States. Just follow the money.

[Pat]

We hear in Virginia FHC have the same problem as Margaret. Our faithful volunteers come everyday and wait. Attendance had really dropped off since we lost Ancestry.com. It's discouraging. Was it politics on their part? We need those records to be of better help to our patrons here. Any suggestions to improve our libray attendance? We love our FHC.

[butler]

It's a shame to think that LDS has made available their free records to ancestry.com, then pathedic to realize that ancestry charges outrage prices, for us to get them! Then to limit the Family History Centers on accessing them! ??????