[F14] Exploring New York the New Way at FamilySearch

What is the overlap between the catalog and Explore Historical Images? >>

Today the catalog contains a subset of images in Explore Images.

Are all cataloged records with images also available through Explore Images? >>

Yes.

Will records only in Explore Images eventually be cataloged? >> Yes. We haven’t publicly announced when that will happen. It will be some time.

Are all the indexed records in Search Historical Records cataloged? Are there indexed records that are not cataloged but available in Explore Historical Records? Or, are some unique to Search Historical Images. >> Having indexes from images not available in the catalog is theoretically possible and will occur at some point, but I don’t think there are any yet.

I'm trying to figure out if I need to check all three places (Search Historical Records, FamilySearch catalog, Explore Images) to access all the available records. >> If you are trying to find images, it may be easiest to first do a name search in Search Historical Records, just in case the image has been indexed. Until all the metadata for images is fixed in Explore Images, many users prefer next going to the catalog. These users turn to Explore Images last of all. Once metadata has been fixed, one will be able to skip the catalog.

Do image numbers change when a film is broken into its individual items? >> Yes. We are considering an option to view the film in its entirety with image numbers progressing across the entire film as before. It is important to know that image numbers can change anytime, anywhere if FamilySearch is required to redact a single image from a film.

Great information, Robert!

If FamilySearch DOES redact a single (or even multiple) images from a film, will it change the ark addresses of the remaining images? PLEASE say no!

This program was the best program on Family Search that I have heard, and I have attended many programs on Family Search in the last three years. Many were given by Family Search representatives but others by genealogists and researchers.

All of them went through how to search the catalog. This is the first one that has stated there are images that are not in the catalog. And the only one that said the catalog isn't being updated. Having done extensive research on Family Search over the last 3 years I am frustrated that I may have missed records.

Does the Date Available mean the date the image was first put online OR the date the metadata was cleaned up?

By "fixing the metadata," do you mean adding Item Numbers to the listings? It is a real pain in the neck hunting through a film trying to find a record set when there are many Items on that film.

And finally, it would be very nice if one could order the search result columns, so, for example, by Date Available or Image Count.

No. ARK addresses are the most long-lived identifier on FamilySearch.org.

Mitzy,

Thank you for your kind comments.

Don't be frustrated over your last 3 years' research. The catalog freeze occurred just this June.

>>Does the Date Available mean the date the image was first put online OR the date the metadata was cleaned up?

For newly acquired digital images, it is the date the image was put online. For digitized microfilm, it is the date the metadata was cleaned up.

>> By "fixing the metadata," do you mean adding Item Numbers to the listings?

Yes. Additionally, if films were divided into items automatically, the coverage metadata (date, place, record type) applicable to each item was assigned to all items. When the metadata is fixed, the extra, incorrect metadata is removed.

>> it would be very nice if one could order the search result columns, so, for example, by Date Available or Image Count.

Thanks for the suggestion. I can pass that to the product manager, but to be completely honest, your feedback will count more if you would make that suggestion using the Feedback button at the side of the window.

Thanks for watching my presentation.

Thanks, Robert! (That's a relief!)

The answers you gave were very helpful to me. I shall do as you suggest and use the feedback button to submit my suggestion.

Robert, I don't know if it's just my browser (Firefox), but when I click on the feedback button, nothing happens. I had a few suggestions after playing with this after your (fabulous) session, but since nothing happens when I click feedback, I just moved on. I suppose if they're not getting any feedback, that would be why.

Thank you for the Family Search talks. I have clearly been under utilizating it. I plan to spend time understanding the great resources available

Yikes! I will pass that on. You are welcome to send feedback to me and I will forward it. If you have moved on, I will understand.

Wonderful!