Yikes, that's a little harsh. I was extrapolating a little, but FamilySearch is explicit about contractual agreements with record holders being responsible for at least some of their viewing restrictions and it's not hard to imagine how those contracts could affect access in different ways. I don't know if they will ever give us a list of what is restricted in what ways, but we do have a pretty good idea of *why* there are viewing restrictions. Kathleen On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 9:41 PM, <metronycancestry@aol.com> wrote: > More conjecturing. You know the simplified definition of "assume?" > > More gobbledy gook. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kathleen Scarlett O'Hara Naylor <kathleen.scarlett.ohara@gmail.com> > > Robert, my understanding is that it has to do with the licensing agreements > originally set up with the organization or municipality who allowed the FHL > to film their records in the first place. In recent years, the FHL has > tried to license the images they create to be used online whenever > possible, but not all institutions will allow it. For records that were > filmed a long time ago, before anyone was thinking of digitization and > online access, the licensing agreement may specify (making up words here) > "We authorize the FHL to create images to be available to the public on > microfilm in Family History Centers nationwide." Those agreements will have > to be completely renegotiated to allow digital access. But there might be > others (perhaps the NYC records) that state, "We authorize the FHL to > create images to be available to the public in Family History Centers > nationwide," where a slight difference in wording means it can be read to > allow access in a variety of formats INSIDE an FHC, but does not go so far > as to allow access outside of one (i.e. online from home). Other agreements > might be less specifically worded so that renegotiation isn't necessary at > all to allow online access. > > I believe they want to allow at-home access to as many records as possible, > but would imagine they're focusing their efforts on the ones that aren't > digitally accessible at all, while making as many records as possible > available in whatever format they can, which may mean on-site only access, > whether for now or forever. Like Gail said, it's a new situation and > hopefully the trend will be towards more access as the FHL gets their ducks > in a row. > > Kathleen > > On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 8:22 PM, Gail Jorgensen <gailjmom@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Robert the records are online but some are restricted so that the access > > is only when you're online inside the family history center. I'm guessing > > nobody knows the why yet because this just happened. These online records > > which are online only at the family history center, are greater access > then > > we had a week ago so let's enjoy the transition and wait and see what > > happens > >