Genealogy Labs
Practical help preserving, organizing, and researching family history

FamilySearch Affiliate Access — Quick Patron Guide

Prepare at home. Use the affiliate as a targeted access point.
Your own phone, tablet, or laptop can be used. Connect to the approved affiliate network during normal public hours, then sign in with your own free FamilySearch account.

Before You Come

  1. Research at home first. Use Records, Full Text, Catalog, Images, Wiki, and your own AI tools as helpful.
  2. Identify restricted records. Affiliate access is most useful for some digitized historical record series, especially digitized microfilm.
  3. Save what you found. Keep the exact link, film number, collection title, place, date, and record type.
  4. Bring your FamilySearch login. You will use your own account.

When You Arrive

  1. Connect your device to the approved affiliate network.
  2. Open FamilySearch.org and sign in.
  3. Go directly to the saved record or film.
  4. Try the restricted record again.
  5. Save the citation and any permitted copy.

What to Expect

Not a special search.
You are searching for records such as deeds, wills, court books, church registers, tax lists, and vital records.
Main gain = viewing permission.
Some restricted digitized record series can open at an affiliate even though they remain locked at home.
Not everything opens.
Some records require a FamilySearch Center. Restricted Books are not unlocked by affiliate status.

If a Record Is Still Locked

Click the record's access information.
If it says “FamilySearch affiliate library”
Confirm you are on the approved affiliate network and try again.
If it says “FamilySearch Center” only
The affiliate cannot unlock that record.
Printing / Saving Results: Save results in PDF format to your own device or flash drive. Choose Save as PDF rather than sending the record directly to a paper printer.
Best use of your visit: arrive with a short retrieval list of records you already found at home.