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== What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?  ==
<p>The name of the Family History Library Catalog has been changed to The FamilySearch Catalog to reflect the inclusion of other FamilySearch Center libraries in the master catalog. The <a href="https://familysearch.org/catalog-search">FamilySearch Catalog</a> describes the genealogical resources held by the <a href="http://familysearch.org/search">FamilySearch.org</a><a href="Family History Library">Family History Library</a> and other designated FamilySearch Centers or Libraries as shown in a pull-down menu on the Catalog search pages. The Catalog is a guide to family histories; birth, marriage, and death records; census records; church registers; books, periodicals and many other records that may contain genealogical information. These records may be in a book, on microfiche or microfilm, searchable online or in a computer file. Most microfilm and microfiche records can be sent to your nearest <a href="Introduction to LDS Family History Centers">Family History Center</a>. If a particular item is available at another FamilySearch Center besides the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, then the pull-down menu will indicate the locations where the item is available. <br><br><br>
The '''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] '''(formerly '''''Family History Library Catalog''''') describes genealogical resources held by [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch], the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library], and selected [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch Centers]. <br><br>  
</p>
<h2> What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?  </h2>
<p><img src="/learn/wiki/en/images/0/07/FHL_Catgalog_search_options.jpg" _fck_mw_filename="FHL Catgalog search options.jpg" _fck_mw_location="right" _fck_mw_width="400" _fck_mw_type="thumb" alt="FHL Catgalog search options.jpg" class="fck_mw_frame fck_mw_right" style="width: 400;" />
</p><p>The <a href="https://familysearch.org/catalog-search">FamilySearch Catalog</a> is available at FamilySearch.org, on compact disc, and on microfiche. Compact disc and microfiche versions are significantly outdated, and do not list films acquired after the publication date on the disc or microfiche.<br>
</p><p>Before you use the FamilySearch Catalog, <a href="Guessing the Easiest to Research Person and Event">choose a person about whom you want to find more information</a>, and decide what you want to learn about him or her. For example, you may want to find your great-grandmother's death date and place. To do this, you need to <a href="Guessing a Record Type to Use">decide what types of records are likely to contain that information</a>.
</p>
<h2> Which Catalog Search Should I Try?  </h2>
<p>The type of search you should do is determined by the kind of catalog entries or records you want to find. Click on the name of each search to learn more.  
</p><p>Use the following table to determine what type of search to do:
</p>
<table class="FCK&#95;_ShowTableBorders">


The Catalog is a guide to birth, marriage, and death records; census records; church registers; books; periodicals;  family histories and many other records that contain genealogical information. These records may be  searchable online, on microfiche or microfilm, in a book or in a computer file.
<tr>
 
<td> <div align="left">
Some entries in the FamilySearch Catalog include images of records. When an image is available in the catalog, a camera icon will appear to the right of the microfilm note associated with that image.
<p><b>Do This Type of Search:</b>
 
</p>
== Where Is the Catalog Found?  ==
 
The [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] is found at the [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] under the '''Search''' tab. [[Image:Logo wcmasthead en.png|right|96px|Logo wcmasthead en.png|alt=WorldCat Logo]]Also, the FamilySearch Catalog has been made available via [[WorldCat Online Catalog|OCLC WorldCat]]<ref>[http://www.worldcat.org/ Official website of OCLC WorldCat].</ref> since 2014. OCLC WorldCat is an online union catalog of over 2 billion titles at 72,000 libraries in 172 countries and territories. Although it is the world’s largest bibliographic database for materials held around the world, OCLC WorldCat does not list sources housed in repositories outside their consortium.
 
== Which Catalog Search Should I Try?  ==
 
[[Image:{{FSCSeaBut}}]]The type of search you should do is determined by the kind of catalog entries or records you want to find. There are eight kinds of possible FamilySearch Catalog searches. In the catalog clicking on the name of the search will open or close that search. <br><br>
 
The table below briefly describes each of the eight types of searches. For further details about each type of search, click on name of the search in the table.
 
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
| <div align="left">
'''Do This Type of Search:'''
</div>  
</div>  
|
</td>
'''To Find the Following Types of Catalog Entries:'''
<td>
 
<p><b>To Find the Following Types of Catalog Entries:</b>
|-
</p>
|
</td></tr>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Places Search|Place Search]]'''
<tr>
 
<td>
|
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Place-name Search">Place-name Search</a></b>
Look for a record by the name of a place (locality) where an ancestor lived.  
</p>
 
</td>
|-
<td>
|
<p>Look for a record by the name of a place (locality) where an ancestor lived.  
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Surnames Search|Surnames Search]]'''
</p>
 
</td></tr>
|
<tr>
Find family histories (and more) by a particular family name.  
<td>
 
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Surname Search">Surname Search</a></b>
|-
</p>
|
</td>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Titles Search|Titles Search]]'''
<td>
 
<p>Find family histories (and more) by a particular family name.  
|
</p>
Find a record by its title.
</td></tr>
 
<tr>
|-
<td>
|
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Keyword Search">Keyword Search</a></b>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Authors Search|Author Search]]'''
</p>
 
</td>
|
<td>
To find the works of an author by his name (individual or corporate).
<p>Get a record using any words or phrases in significant parts of its catalog entry.&#160;
 
</p>
|-
</td></tr>
|
<tr>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Subjects Search|Subjects Search]]'''
<td>
 
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Title Search">Title Search</a></b>
|
</p>
To discover works based on the topics they cover.
</td>
 
<td>
|-
<p>Find&#160;a record by its title.  
|
</p>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Keywords Search|Keywords Search]]'''
</td></tr>
 
<tr>
|
<td>
Get a record using any words or phrases in significant parts of its catalog entry.
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Film or Fiche Search">Film/Fiche Search</a></b>
 
</p>
|-
</td>
|
<td>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Call Number Search|Call Number Search]]'''
<p>See&#160;catalog details&#160;by finding the Library's microfilm or microfiche number.&#160;
 
</p>
|
</td></tr>
See catalog entries by finding their book, compact disc, or pedigree call number.  
<tr>
 
<td>
|-
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Author Search">Author Search</a></b>
|
</p>
'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Film/Fiche Number Search|Film/Fiche Number Search]]'''
</td>
 
<td>
|
<p>To find the works of an author by his name (individual or corporate).  
See catalog details by finding the Library's microfilm or microfiche number.
</p>
 
</td></tr>
|}
<tr>
 
<td>
When you want to change to a new kind of search it helps to close the old search first. Close the old search by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner of the area around the search box. Then click on the new search type to open that kind of search.  
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Subject Search">Subject Search</a></b>  
 
</p>
Another way to close an old search is to click on the name of that type of search, for example, ''Places''.
</td>
 
<td>
== Combined Searches  ==
<p>To discover works based on the topics they cover.  
<div style="float: left; width: 100%">
</p>
[[Image:{{FSCComSea}}]]You can also combine two or more FamilySearch Catalog searches if a single search alone yields too many results to be practical. For example, you could combine a '''Surnames Search''' and a '''Keywords Search'''. First close all the other search types. Then click the ''Surnames'' and the ''Keywords'' searches. A search for "Smith" in the ''Surnames Search'' yields over 4,000 results. But combined with the ''Keywords Search'' for the phrase "Philadelphia cave" this combination returns only one result.<br><br>  
</td></tr>
 
<tr>
Combining ''Surnames'' and ''Keywords'' searches for a family name and a state where they lived is often a successful strategy. "Smith" in the ''Surnames'' field and combined with "Hawaii" in the ''Keywords'' field will yield a manageable 52 results. <br>
<td>
 
<p><b><a href="Family History Library Catalog Call Number Search">Call Number Search</a></b>
== Availability of an Item  ==
</p>
'''Availability Status''' is determined for each individual copy or item.  The status can vary based on several factors. The following are possible statuses that you may see and what they can mean:
</td>
 
<td>
*'''Available:''' the item is available in the Library or Center in the Location and Collection/Shelf indicated for that copy record. <br>
<p>See catalog entries by finding&#160;their book, compact disc, or pedigree call number.  
*'''Missing:''' the item is currently missing from the shelf or location to which it is assigned. <br>
</p>
*'''Not Available:''' this status means the item is not available for use because it is in another location.  The item could be with a cataloger, in binding or repair, in the preparation process to soon be shelved, waiting to be digitized, in transit to or from the Library or Center. <br>
</td></tr></table>
*'''Off-site Storage:''' the item is digitized and in storage outside of the library. For guests wishing to view items listed under this status, visit the Guest Services window on the main floor of the Library to receive temporary digital access on-demand or search for an online copy at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/books Library "Books" page].<br>
<h2> When It's Not in the Catalog  </h2>
*'''On Loan:''' the item is not available because it is currently being digitized or because a staff member has requested to have the book at their desk for a project or assignment. The book will be returned and made available as soon as possible. <br>
<p><b>Before concluding it is not in the FamilySearch Catalog</b> try the following strategies:  
 
</p>
== When It's Not in the Catalog  ==
<ul><li>Look again in Surname Search for <a href="Guessing a Name Variation">variations of the family name</a>.<br>
 
</li><li>Change the jurisdiction in Place Search. For example, if it is not at the county level, try again under the town, state, or national levels, or in neighboring counties and towns.<br>  
'''Before concluding that something is not in the FamilySearch Catalog''', try the following strategies:  
</li><li>Try a variety of searches. Use a Keyword Search, Subject Search, Author Search, or Title Search.  
 
</li><li>Try again later. The Family History Library is constantly acquiring new materials.
*Search under another jurisdiction in a Places Search. For example, if there are no results for your topic on the county level, try searching again under the town, state, or national jurisdiction levels, or in neighboring counties and towns. If your ancestor lived in Cleveland, Ohio, you would make a place search for Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Ohio.<br>  
</li></ul>
*Look again in Surnames Search for [[Guessing a Name Variation|variations of the family name]].<br>  
<p><b>Try other repositories.</b> Many other libraries and archives have information about ancestors. Try their online catalogs to see if they have what you need. For example, try catalogs like the <a href="http://worldcat.org/">WorldCat</a> (world's largest network of online content and services), or the <a href="http://www.dar.org/library/onlinlib.cfm">Daughters of the American Revolution Online Library Catalog</a>.  
*Try a variety of searches. Use a Keywords Search, Subjects Search, Authors Search, or Titles Search.  
</p><p>If a repository's catalog is not online, try contacting them by phone or mail to learn if they have records about an ancestor. For a directory of U.S. historical genealogical societies see http://<a href="http://www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html">www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html</a>&#160; For a list of various kinds of libraries and archives try <a href="http://dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/">dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/</a>
*Try again later. FamilySearch is constantly acquiring new materials.
</p><p><b>Search the Internet.</b> Many records are being digitized and put on the Internet. Search engines like <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a>, or <a href="http://www.yahoo.com/">Yahoo</a> can help locate information. Also the <a href="Family History Library Internet Favorites">Family History Library Internet Favorites</a> can help find useful genealogical Internet sites.  
 
</p>
'''Try other repositories.''' Many other libraries and archives have information about ancestors. Try their online catalogs to see if they have what you need. For example, try catalogs like the [http://worldcat.org/ WorldCat] (world's largest network of online content and services), or the [http://www.dar.org/library/onlinlib.cfm Daughters of the American Revolution Online Library Catalog]. <br>
<h2> Related Content  </h2>
<br>
<ul><li><a href="Abbreviations in the Family History Library Catalog">Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog</a>
'''Search the Internet.''' Many records are being digitized and put on the Internet. In FamilySearch's '''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/ Historical Records Collections]''' you will find billions of names across hundreds of [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] collections including birth, marriage, death, probate, land, military, Ancestral File, and the International Genealogical Index. Also, search engines like [http://www.google.com/ Google], or [http://www.yahoo.com/ Yahoo] can help locate many other historical sources available on the Internet.
</li><li><a href="Deciphering Family History Library Catalog Entries">Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries</a>
 
</li><li><a href="Locality Subject Subdivisions">FamilySearch Catalog Locality Subject Subdivisons</a>
== Related Content  ==
</li><li><a href="Family History Library Catalog Place Search">Family History Library Catalog Place Search</a>&#160;
 
</li></ul>
*[[Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog|Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog]]
<p><a href="https://fch.ldschurch.org/WWSupport/Courses/LibraryCatalogOverview/Catalog%20Overview/player.html">FamilySearch Catalog Overview</a> (11 minute online video)
*[[Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries|Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries]]
</p><p><br>
*[[Locality Subject Subdivisions|FamilySearch Catalog Locality Subject Subdivisons]]
</p><p><span class="fck_mw_template">{{featured article}}</span>
*[[FamilySearch Catalog Places Search]]
</p>
 
== References  ==
 
{{reflist}}  


{{FamilySearch Catalog}}
<a href="Category:Family_History_Library_Catalog">FamilySearch_Catalog</a> <a href="Category:Online_library_catalogs">Online_library_catalogs</a> <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online">FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online</a>
{{-}} </div>  
[[Category:FamilySearch_Catalog]] [[Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online]]

Revision as of 23:55, 27 August 2013

The name of the Family History Library Catalog has been changed to The FamilySearch Catalog to reflect the inclusion of other FamilySearch Center libraries in the master catalog. The <a href="https://familysearch.org/catalog-search">FamilySearch Catalog</a> describes the genealogical resources held by the <a href="http://familysearch.org/search">FamilySearch.org</a><a href="Family History Library">Family History Library</a> and other designated FamilySearch Centers or Libraries as shown in a pull-down menu on the Catalog search pages. The Catalog is a guide to family histories; birth, marriage, and death records; census records; church registers; books, periodicals and many other records that may contain genealogical information. These records may be in a book, on microfiche or microfilm, searchable online or in a computer file. Most microfilm and microfiche records can be sent to your nearest <a href="Introduction to LDS Family History Centers">Family History Center</a>. If a particular item is available at another FamilySearch Center besides the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, then the pull-down menu will indicate the locations where the item is available.


What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?

<img src="/learn/wiki/en/images/0/07/FHL_Catgalog_search_options.jpg" _fck_mw_filename="FHL Catgalog search options.jpg" _fck_mw_location="right" _fck_mw_width="400" _fck_mw_type="thumb" alt="FHL Catgalog search options.jpg" class="fck_mw_frame fck_mw_right" style="width: 400;" />

The <a href="https://familysearch.org/catalog-search">FamilySearch Catalog</a> is available at FamilySearch.org, on compact disc, and on microfiche. Compact disc and microfiche versions are significantly outdated, and do not list films acquired after the publication date on the disc or microfiche.

Before you use the FamilySearch Catalog, <a href="Guessing the Easiest to Research Person and Event">choose a person about whom you want to find more information</a>, and decide what you want to learn about him or her. For example, you may want to find your great-grandmother's death date and place. To do this, you need to <a href="Guessing a Record Type to Use">decide what types of records are likely to contain that information</a>.

Which Catalog Search Should I Try?

The type of search you should do is determined by the kind of catalog entries or records you want to find. Click on the name of each search to learn more.

Use the following table to determine what type of search to do:

Do This Type of Search:

To Find the Following Types of Catalog Entries:

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Place-name Search">Place-name Search</a>

Look for a record by the name of a place (locality) where an ancestor lived.

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Surname Search">Surname Search</a>

Find family histories (and more) by a particular family name.

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Keyword Search">Keyword Search</a>

Get a record using any words or phrases in significant parts of its catalog entry. 

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Title Search">Title Search</a>

Find a record by its title.

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Film or Fiche Search">Film/Fiche Search</a>

See catalog details by finding the Library's microfilm or microfiche number. 

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Author Search">Author Search</a>

To find the works of an author by his name (individual or corporate).

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Subject Search">Subject Search</a>

To discover works based on the topics they cover.

<a href="Family History Library Catalog Call Number Search">Call Number Search</a>

See catalog entries by finding their book, compact disc, or pedigree call number.

When It's Not in the Catalog

Before concluding it is not in the FamilySearch Catalog try the following strategies:

  • Look again in Surname Search for <a href="Guessing a Name Variation">variations of the family name</a>.
  • Change the jurisdiction in Place Search. For example, if it is not at the county level, try again under the town, state, or national levels, or in neighboring counties and towns.
  • Try a variety of searches. Use a Keyword Search, Subject Search, Author Search, or Title Search.
  • Try again later. The Family History Library is constantly acquiring new materials.

Try other repositories. Many other libraries and archives have information about ancestors. Try their online catalogs to see if they have what you need. For example, try catalogs like the <a href="http://worldcat.org/">WorldCat</a> (world's largest network of online content and services), or the <a href="http://www.dar.org/library/onlinlib.cfm">Daughters of the American Revolution Online Library Catalog</a>.

If a repository's catalog is not online, try contacting them by phone or mail to learn if they have records about an ancestor. For a directory of U.S. historical genealogical societies see http://<a href="http://www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html">www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html</a>  For a list of various kinds of libraries and archives try <a href="http://dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/">dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/</a>

Search the Internet. Many records are being digitized and put on the Internet. Search engines like <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a>, or <a href="http://www.yahoo.com/">Yahoo</a> can help locate information. Also the <a href="Family History Library Internet Favorites">Family History Library Internet Favorites</a> can help find useful genealogical Internet sites.

Related Content

  • <a href="Abbreviations in the Family History Library Catalog">Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog</a>
  • <a href="Deciphering Family History Library Catalog Entries">Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries</a>
  • <a href="Locality Subject Subdivisions">FamilySearch Catalog Locality Subject Subdivisons</a>
  • <a href="Family History Library Catalog Place Search">Family History Library Catalog Place Search</a> 

<a href="https://fch.ldschurch.org/WWSupport/Courses/LibraryCatalogOverview/Catalog%20Overview/player.html">FamilySearch Catalog Overview</a> (11 minute online video)


<a href="Category:Family_History_Library_Catalog">FamilySearch_Catalog</a> <a href="Category:Online_library_catalogs">Online_library_catalogs</a> <a _fcknotitle="true" href="Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online">FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online</a>

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

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