FamilySearch Microfilm: The Aftermath

The announcement by FamilySearch a couple of months ago that they would be discontinuing microfilm shipments to the Family History Centers caused quite a stir among a very small subset of the larger genealogical community both those who are and those who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From my own experience, I am guessing that the vast majority of the members of the Church have never set foot inside of a Family History Center, much less ordered a roll of microfilm. However, for that small minority of both members and others outside of the membership of the Church who have been actively involved in using microfilm copies for research, the decision to discontinue shipments had a rather major impact.

What is happening today with respect to the availability of the FamilySearch microfilmed records? Well, we can see that additional records are being digitized and almost constantly being added to the FamilySearch.org Catalog. FamilySearch representatives have stated that any microfilm roll that had been ordered during the past five years has already been digitized and is now in the Catalog. Granted, as was always the case, some of these digitized records are only available for viewing while using a Family History Center or Library computer, but they are available.

About a month ago, the BYU Family History Library posted one of my videos entitled, "No more microfilm rentals? Where do I go to see the digital copies?" that explains where and how to find these digital copies.

But now that the dust has settled, where are we today? I have been closely monitoring some of my active research areas on the FamilySearch.org Catalog. Here is a screenshot of one section of the former microfilms listed in the Catalog:

This set of South Kingston, Rhode Island, Town Council records 1704-1943 has been completely digitized, but the little key icons above the camera icons indicate that the digitized images are only available for viewing in a Family History Center. True, I don't have to order the microfilm, wait and then travel to the Family History Center to view the microfilm, but I do have to travel to the Family History Center to view the digital images. However, in looking at other entries, I find that most of what I need is now online and visible from my own computer. For example:

There are still some microfilm rolls that have yet to be digitized and are therefore only available in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, but that has also always been the case, especially with films that were restricted for one reason or another.

In summary, those films that have had the highest demand are now available. Those films that have not been in demand may still have been digitized. Some films are only viewable in Family History Centers and some are only viewable in Salt Lake City at the Family History Library. For most of us, this isn't much different than it has always been but now, we can access many more films online for free than was ever dreamed possible.