The Genealogy Corner…New FamilySearch Update

FamilySearch has been developing multiple products and applications simultaneously over the past five years.  After years of development and active speculation,the new FamilySearch (NFS) continues to roll out.  They encountered some problems with individuals of unusual size,but they now think they have solved the major problem that had stalled the release of NFS to more temples.  In January they released the program to the Las Vegas Temple District and this month it went into the Vernal Temple.  The process has begun for the Twin Falls Idaho and Monticello Utah temples. 

Tim Cross,the product manager for Family Tree,said that they may begin rolling it out stake by stake in Utah and Idaho so that they don’t create too much of an overload to the system.  NFS will be updated with the Family Tree feature currently found at the FamilySearch Labs Site. www.labs.familysearch.org FamilySearch estimates that adding Utah and Idaho will double or even triple the usage of NFS.  They are as anxious as we are to get the program available to Latter-day Saints worldwide.  The Family Tree feature of NFS will ultimately be available to the general public.

FamilySearch Records Access’program continues to release millions of new records and images,made freely available online at www.familysearch.org (Go to Search Records >Record Search pilot).  These are the records that have been made available through FamilySearch Indexing.

FamilySearch Indexing has grown to become the largest initiative of its kind in the world.  It uses state-of-the-art technology,the Internet,and tens of thousands of volunteers from all over the world to create indexes to the world’s historical records.  Volunteers register online,download a custom software utility,and donate a few minutes each week online at a convenient time to help index records of personal interest.  Currently,the equivalent of about one million names are indexed per day.  In 2009,the focus will be improving the indexer experience,adding foreign language interfaces and foreign language projects,and publishing faster.  www.familysearchindexing.org

FamilySearch is digitizing and indexing more than 100,000 published family and county histories.  The finished product is a free,high-quality digital version of the original publication with an every word or name searchable index. You can donate your own published family history to ensure it will be preserved and readily available for generations to come.  More than 25,000 have already been digitized,indexed and are available at www.familyhistoryarchive.byu.edu

Shanna Sullivan Jones is a professional genealogist now accepting new clients.  For additional information,Shanna can be reached at (435) 628-4900 or shannasjones@msn.com.