Getting the FHC computers to sync with major websites

How is worked at our local FHC

DearREADERS,
So how did it work, setting up the four computers at our local FHC to access the free databases previously mentioned in DearMYRTLE's FINALLY, new databases are accessible through FHCs ? First, Ol' Myrt and all the patrons of the Bellevue Washington FHC wish to express a great big THANKS to Renee Zamora for blogging about this first in her article titled HeritageQuest at FHCs .

NOTE: When sitting at each computer, Ol' Myrt verified that each already had LANDesk installed.

These are the steps that worked on 4 of our most modern computers.
1. Pointed Internet Explorer to http://www.fhc.familysearch.org/

2. Clicked on each item on the bulleted list:
· HeritageQuest Online
· World Vital Records
· FamilyLink
· Godfrey Memorial Library
· Kindred Connections
· Footnote.com

3. IF a link returned an “page not found” click the link to run the file found on the site labeled: FHCPortalCertInstall.exe and chose to RUN or OPEN when prompted. Also, this installation of the Portal Certificate only needed to be done one time on a computer because we noted that as one site became available, the others on the list were also available when we clicked a different name on the list.

4. Each website was tested to see if it was searchable, and if original scanned images would show up wherever possible.

5. A new “shortcut” was created on the computer desktop called “New DATABASES” and the hyperlink was to http://www.fhc.familysearch.org/, providing patrons easy access to the portal page.

And THAT is how our local Family History Center opened up free access via FamilySearch on our four best computers.

NOTE: Three older computers wouldn’t work with this new system of accessing affiliate database websites. Ol' Myrt was so happy to have four working computers, I just didn’t want to bother FamilySearch Tech Support with the problem. If your Family History Center has trouble getting the new access portal to work, there is a support email and phone number on the above referenced website.

NOTE: Family History Center patrons will not go to Footnote.com directly, but will use the FHC portal at http://www.fhc.familysearch.org/. This page can be viewed from a home computer, but clicking does not provide access to the websites mentioned. Access is only granted to FHC computers. This means that free research on these sites can only be done at your local Family History Center, one of 4,000+ worldwide network of branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your friend in genealogy.
Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com
http://www.dearmyrtle.com/

(c) 2007 Pat Richley All Rights Reserved.

Godfrey Library’s online access update

Info for new and continuing card holders explained

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just received from Godfrey’s news service. All inquiries should be addressed to Richard Black, Director richard@godfrey.org

Godfrey Library Update
4 June 2007
Godfrey will now offer a variety of subscription packages. The recent changes to the website reflect what is available. Those who have a current membership should use the Blue portal or window to enter. Those who are renewing or subscribing may choose to use either the Blue or Red portal or window depending on whether or not they are [also] subscribing to NewspaperArchive.com.

For the last couple of years, we have been able to offer the NewspaperArchive.com content as part of the $35.00 membership fee. When it came time to renew our contract, we discovered that the renewal fee would be prohibitive and would not allow us to continue to offer the product at the current $35.00. What we were able to do was negotiate a price that would allow us to offer the content at an increased price on a “per user” basis. What we have done is split the subscription fee so that those who want to use NewspaperArchive.com can continue to use it at a price of $65.00 (including all of the current content of the Godfrey Scholar) and those that do not need NewspaperArchive.com can continue to use the Godfrey Scholar material at the standard $35.00 fee.

As part of the negotiation, we were able to pay an additional fee which will allow members whose membership is still current access to NewspaperArchive.com without additional cost until their current subscriptions expire.

Those who renew or subscribe after May 31st will be required to pay the additional $30.00 if they want access to NewspaperArchive.com. If you are familiar with the individual subscription fees for NewspaperArchive.com, I am sure you will agree that the additional cost is very reasonable.

The other two windows or portals (Green and Gold) will accommodate a similar agreement that will be forthcoming that will allow Godfrey Scholar’s access to the World Vital Records material.

Many of you have expressed concern about the possible loss of the Newsbank obituaries. That contract has expired. As you may know, Newsbank has changed their marketing strategy. We do not know if we will be able to continue to offer that material. We will keep you posted in the next few days as that process unfolds.

You will see significant additions to the Godfrey Scholar Program in the weeks ahead. Much of this material will be unique to Godfrey. We will be adding over 30 thousand mortuary records, approximately 90 thousand Jewish cemetery records, bible records, digitized books and other material.

We appreciate you continued support.

Richard E. Black, Director
Godfrey Memorial Library
134 Newfield Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-4375
www.Godfrey.org
richard@godfrey.org

CT vital records access improved

Godfrey Library card holders given distinctive access

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just distributed through Godfrey's News List. All inquiries should be addressed to Richard Black, Director richard@godfrey.org.

From: Richard Black
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 9:58 AM

Godfrey Library annoucement about State Approvals

Library Members Receive State Approval for Access to Vital Records

The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health issued a letter of approval on May 24, 2007 to Godfrey Memorial Library which allows current members access to Connecticut Vital Records located throughout the state. According to the Registrar of Vital Records Elizabeth Frugale, "Members must show photographic identification and a valid Godfrey Memorial Library Membership Card before being granted access to vital records."

"We are very pleased to have received this designation from the state. We suggest that all of our local members make use of this great opportunity to further their genealogical research. We encourage every member to abide by the rules of conduct set forth at each town hall," said Library Director Richard Black.

Richard E. Black, Director
Godfrey Memorial Library
134 Newfield Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-4375
richard@godfrey.org

Godfrey.org access through Family History Centers

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was just distributed through Godfrey's News List. All inquiries should be addressed to Richard Black, Director richard@godfrey.org.

From: Richard Black, Director richard@godfrey.org
Friday, June 01, 2007 9:34 AM

This is the first of 3 or 4 announcements that we will be making today. This announcement concerns the recent agreement to have the Godfrey Scholar furnished as part of family search.

"We are excited to include Godfrey Memorial Library to our list of premium databases or services offered throughout FamilySearch centers worldwide. They provide some premier resources that will certainly be of great value to FamilySearch center patrons," said Paul Nauta, manager of public affairs for FamilySearch. "In return Godfrey Memorial Library will significantly broaden its reach and awareness by being introduced to scores of researchers through 4500 FamilySearch facilities in over 70 countries," Nauta added.

Many new genealogical websites and services are coming online everyday, making more and more records available. FamilySearch is teaming up with these online service providers like Godfrey Memorial Library to introduce patrons to these exciting services and provide even greater online access to the world's genealogical records. These premium services are available for free in family history centers, the Family History Library and FamilySearch operated centers.

FamilySearch is committed to providing as much genealogical data as possible to its patrons quickly and economically. The accomplishment of this initiative will come in part from its own programs, and others will come from affiliations with service providers like Godfrey Memorial Library. This will allow maximum and efficient use of industry resources.

Godfrey Memorial Library can greatly increase awareness of its services through the FamilySearch public distribution channels. FamilySearch workers will innately help patrons become familiar with and use Godfrey's online services.

Patrons to FamilySearch facilities get access to Godfrey's databases-an otherwise fee-based online service. The FamilySearch resources are frequented by mostly enthusiasts and professional researchers; many of which may elect to subscribe personally to the services for home or remote access.

Richard E. Black, Director
Godfrey Memorial Library
134 Newfield Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-4375
richard@godfrey.org

Powerful databases coming online

The Web is becoming a great place to view original documents that might prove ancestral relationships

DearREADERS,
There was much ado about Ancestry.com's decision to pull out of free access through local LDS Family History Centers equipped with high speed internet effective 1 April 2007. Until late last week, those of us with personal Ancestry.com accounts could not sign in to our accounts using computers at the Family History Library or Family History Centers. That access to subscribers has been "fixed" but free access to Ancestry.com’s Library edition through Family History Centers is a thing of the past.

In the mean time, the following report of additional databases to be made available comes from a Tim Steinberger by way of his posting to the FHCNET group as follows:

"The information came from FHCSupport through the center’s LDSMail accounts this afternoon about new databases to be available to Family History Centers soon. The information was sent to FHC Directors, and the procedures for accessing these databases will be sent to the Directors when they become available. The databases to become available are:
· World Vital Records (worldvitalrecords.com)
· Kindred Konnections (kindredkonnections.com)
· Godfrey Memorial Library (godfrey.org)
· Heritage Quest Online "

Tim Steinberger, Director
Brookings Oregon Family History Center
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FHCNET/message/15560

Ol' Myrt has had the privilege of speaking "off the record" with a few higher ups in the world of genealogy and there are additional wonderful announcements to come down the pike.

Before posting a blog, I routinely check my email. Good thing I did, because I noticed this important announcement just posted in a special edition of Nu? What's New? The E-zine of Jewish Genealogy. Editor Gary Mokotoff reports:

Access to Arolsen Records to Be Expedited
“Representatives of the 11 countries that comprise the committee that governs the International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen, Germany, met Tuesday and decided to start distributing electronic copies of the ITS records, rather than wait for the remaining four countries—Luxembourg, Greece, Italy and France—to give their formal approval. It probably will not significantly expedite public access to the records, but it does show that the mood of the committee is not to allow formalities to inhibit public access; instead time is of the essence.

Meanwhile, the Holocaust survivor movement in the U.S. is chastising the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Movement for not making “immediate remote access” to the Arolsen records once they have them in hand. They are accusing Paul Shapiro, director of the museum's Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, of being the villain. Ironic since Shapiro was probably the person most instrumental in getting the Arolsen records released from the clutches of ITS.” Nu? What's New? Volume 8, Number109, May 15, 2007. Back issues available at: http://www.avotaynu.com/nu.htm

And some people think that ancestral research is pretty much a dead topic, huh? Exciting new developments are happening all the time.

Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,Your friend in genealogy.
Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com
www.DearMYRTLE.com

(c) 2007 Pat Richley All Rights Reserved.