by Linda Jesmok and Jeanine Layland
NVGS is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library - So What?
FamilySearch (FS) has three levels of access to all of their online/digitized materials. The difference between these levels is based on what material is accessible to the researcher.
Level 1: Accessible only from the Salt Lake City Genealogy Library and any location directly attached to Genealogy Library systems. Level 1 has access to everything in LDS genealogy system.
Level 2: Affiliate access (what NVGS has) and special LDS member access from their own computers. Level 2 has access to most things but not to any whose copyright does not allow sharing outside the LDS system.
Level 3: Anyone who signs into a personal FamilySearch account. These accounts are free to anyone who signs up. Level 3 is limited to material that has no copyright restrictions at all.
NVGS’s static IP address is what tells FamilySearch in Salt Lake City that we are an Affiliate. Anyone signing in from our router/WiFi is automatically in Level 2 access. You can be on one of our computers or on your own laptop (using NVGS WiFi).
If you are researching at home and find a record locked, make a note of the record description or bookmark it in your account. Then bring your list to the library and sign into FamilySearch as “you” in your account (NVGS does not have its own account). If you are lucky, the record will be unlocked. Many times this technique works to open records that are unavailable at Level 3 status!
So — having access to an Affiliate Library can be an immense help to a researcher. If you hit a snag at home, visit our Library and give it a try.
