Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:51, 21 July 2014

The FamilySearch Catalog (previously known as the Family History Library Catalog) describes the genealogical resources held by FamilySearch.org, the Family History Library, and other designated FamilySearch Centers or Libraries.

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 Family History Center. If a particular item is available at another FamilySearch Center besides the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, then a pull-down menu will indicate the locations where the item is available.

What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?[edit | edit source]

The FamilySearch Catalog is available at FamilySearch.org. (Previous versions of the catalog were released on compact disc and on microfiche, but those versions are significantly outdated, and do not list films acquired after the publication date on the disc or microfiche.)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, choose a person about whom you want to find more information, 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 decide what types of records are likely to contain that information.

Which Catalog Search Should I Try?[edit | edit source]

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:
Places Search	Look for a record by the name of a place (locality) where an ancestor lived.
Surnames Search	Find family histories (and more) by a particular family name.
Titles Search	Find a record by its title.
Authors Search	To find the works of an author by his name (individual or corporate).
Subjects Search	To discover works based on the topics they cover.
Keywords Search	Get a record using any words or phrases in significant parts of its catalog entry.
Call Number Search	See catalog entries by finding their book, compact disc, or pedigree call number.
Film/Fiche Number Search	See catalog details by finding the Library's microfilm or microfiche number.

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.

Another way to close an old search is to click on the name of that type of search, for example, Places.

Combined Searches[edit | edit source]

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.

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.

When It's Not in the Catalog[edit | edit source]

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

Look again in Surnames Search for variations of the family name.
Change the jurisdiction in a Places 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 Keywords Search, Subjects Search, Authors Search, or Titles Search.
Try again later. FamilySearch 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 WorldCat (world's largest network of online content and services), or the Daughters of the American Revolution Online Library Catalog.

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://www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html For a list of various kinds of libraries and archives try dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/

Search the Internet. Many records are being digitized and put on the Internet. Search engines like Google, or Yahoo can help locate information. Also the Family History Library Internet Favorites can help find useful genealogical Internet sites.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?  ==
+__TOC__The '''[https://familysearch.org/catalog-search FamilySearch Catalog]&nbsp;'''(previously known as the '''''Family History Library Catalog''''')&nbsp;describes the genealogical resources held by [http://familysearch.org/search FamilySearch.org], the&nbsp;[[Family History Library]], and other designated FamilySearch Centers or Libraries.
-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>
-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.
+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.
-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.
+Most microfilm and microfiche records can be sent to your nearest [[Introduction to LDS Family History Centers|Family History Center]]. If a particular item is available at another FamilySearch Center besides the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, then a pull-down menu will indicate the locations where the item is available.
-== Where Is the Catalog Found?  ==
+=== What Is the FamilySearch Catalog?  ===
-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.
+The [https://familysearch.org/catalog-search FamilySearch Catalog] is available at FamilySearch.org. (Previous versions of the catalog were released on compact disc and on microfiche, but those versions are significantly outdated, and do not list films acquired after the publication date on the disc or microfiche.)<br>
-== Which Catalog Search Should I Try?  ==
+Before you use the FamilySearch Catalog, [[Guessing the Easiest to Research Person and Event|choose a person about whom you want to find more information]], 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 [[Guessing a Record Type to Use|decide what types of records are likely to contain that information]].
-[[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>
+=== Which Catalog Search Should I Try?  ===
-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.
+[[Image:FamilySearch Catalog Search Buttons.jpg|border|right|400px|FamilySearch Catalog Search Buttons.jpg]]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.<br><br>
+Use the following table to determine what type of search to do:
 {| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 |-
 |
-'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Places Search|Place Search]]'''
+'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Places Search|Places Search]]'''
 |
@@ Line 47: / Line 48: @@
 |-
 |
-'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Authors Search|Author Search]]'''
+'''[[FamilySearch Catalog Authors Search|Authors Search]]'''
 |
@@ Line 64: / Line 65: @@
 |
-Get a record using any words or phrases in significant parts of its catalog entry.
+Get a record using any words or phrases in significant parts of its catalog entry.&nbsp;
 |-
@@ Line 78: / Line 79: @@
 |
-See catalog details by finding the Library's microfilm or microfiche number.
+See catalog details by finding the Library's microfilm or microfiche number.&nbsp;
 |}
@@ Line 84: / Line 85: @@
 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.
 Another way to close an old search is to click on the name of that type of search, for example, ''Places''.
-== Combined Searches  ==
-<div style="float: left; width: 100%">
-[[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>
-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>
+=== Combined Searches  ===
-== Availability of an Item  ==
+[[Image:FSC Combined Search.png|border|right|350px|FSC Combined Search.png]]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&nbsp;'' and the ''Keywords&nbsp;'' searches. A search for "Smith" in the ''Surnames Search&nbsp;'' yields over 4,000 results. But combined with the ''Keywords Search&nbsp;'' for the phrase "Philadelphia cave" this combination returns only one result.<br><br>
-'''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:
-*'''Available:''' the item is available in the Library or Center in the Location and Collection/Shelf indicated for that copy record. <br>
+Combining ''Surnames&nbsp;'' and ''Keywords&nbsp;'' searches for a family name and a state where they lived is often a successful strategy. "Smith" in the ''Surnames&nbsp;'' field and combined with "Hawaii" in the ''Keywords&nbsp;'' field will yield a manageable 52 results.
-*'''Missing:''' the item is currently missing from the shelf or location to which it is assigned. <br>
-*'''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>
-*'''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>
-*'''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>
-== When It's Not in the Catalog  ==
+=== When It's Not in the Catalog  ===
-'''Before concluding that something is not in the FamilySearch Catalog''', try the following strategies:
+'''Before concluding it is not in the FamilySearch Catalog''' try the following strategies:
-*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>
 *Look again in Surnames Search for [[Guessing a Name Variation|variations of the family name]].<br>
+*Change the jurisdiction in a Places 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>
 *Try a variety of searches. Use a Keywords Search, Subjects Search, Authors Search, or Titles Search.
 *Try again later. FamilySearch 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 [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>
+'''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>
-'''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.
+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://[http://www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html www.obitlinkspage.com/hs/index.html]&nbsp; For a list of various kinds of libraries and archives try [http://dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/ dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/]
-== Related Content  ==
+'''Search the Internet.''' Many records are being digitized and put on the Internet. Search engines like [http://www.google.com/ Google], or [http://www.yahoo.com/ Yahoo] can help locate information. Also the [[Family History Library Internet Favorites|Family History Library Internet Favorites]] can help find useful genealogical Internet sites.
-*[[Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog|Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog]]
+=== Related Content  ===
-*[[Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries|Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries]]
+*[[Abbreviations in the Family History Library Catalog|Abbreviations in the FamilySearch Catalog]]
+*[[Deciphering Family History Library Catalog Entries|Deciphering FamilySearch Catalog Entries]]
 *[[Locality Subject Subdivisions|FamilySearch Catalog Locality Subject Subdivisons]]
-*[[FamilySearch Catalog Places Search]]
+*[[FamilySearch Catalog Places Search]]&nbsp;
-== References  ==
+[https://fch.ldschurch.org/WWSupport/Courses/LibraryCatalogOverview/Catalog%20Overview/player.html FamilySearch Catalog Overview] (11 minute online video)
-{{reflist}}
+{{FamilySearch Catalog}}
-{{FamilySearch Catalog}}
+{{featured article}}
-{{-}} </div>
-[[Category:FamilySearch_Catalog]] [[Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online]]
+[[Category:FamilySearch_Catalog]] [[Category:Online_library_catalogs|Online_library_catalogs]] [[Category:FamilySearch_Research_Classes_Online]]