Wednesday, January 14, 2009

FHL Computer Subscription Websites

When I was at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City on Monday, I took some pictures of the facilities. I was most interested in the genealogy databases that are available on the computers. However, I could find no way to capture screen images to my flash drive, so I took photos of the screens in hope that they would be readable.

When you walk up to the computers, you see this screen:



On the left hand column, there are choices for Find Ancestors, Manage Records, Online Resources and Submit Records. The screen above is the Find Ancestors screen.

As you can see, you can click on the top left link to go to FamilySearch.org or to surf the web. Or you can go to the top right link to go to the Family History Library Catalog.

The left hand second from the top link is for Subscription Websites. When I clicked on it, this was the top of the screen:



And the bottom of the web page:


That is a fairly impressive collection of subscription web sites - all of them free to use at the Family History Library.

There are many computer stations on each of the five floors at the Family History Library. On the two days I was there (a Saturday and a Monday in the middle of winter, but with an education program in progress at SLIG), the computer stations were well-populated, but I could always find one available.

I did very little searching in these databases. I mainly used the computers to search the FHL Catalog for film numbers, and I checked my email and Facebook occasionally.

This blog, www.geneamusings.com, was not available at the FHL computers - it was blocked because of sexual content. I think it was the text and the picture of Megan and me on the Wholly Genes cruise - I was wearing my "Genealogy is Like Sex" T-shirt.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

In their wisdom, the mormon censors decided to block this blog because of its explicit sexual content, Dare I follow the link anyway?
Oh! No! Argh! Shocking! Really now, that is unforgivable. The colour balance and saturation are way off.

Lee Drew said...

The filtering software used at the libraries blocks many of the LDS church web sites too Randy, so don't feel bad. Some of my own sites are blocked and some aren't.

It is just a function of the software that is being used for the screening.

I'm glad I don't have an assignment working for a vendor to view all the site on the web and give them a thumbs up or thumbs down every week. When would I get any research done?

Glad you had a good trip.

lyn said...

Are these introductory screens any different from those you would see at the San Diego FHC? I haven't been there recently so can't say myself. Maybe they are the same screens at most FHCs? Or are they specific to SLC Library?

Randy Seaver said...

Lee, I didn't know that. I wonder why the LDS sties are blocked?

Lyn - I think the screens I showed are probably unique to the FHL in SLC. The screens at my local San Diego FHC are different, and the databases available are different.