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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Watson on Monday 10 January 22 14:10 GMT (UK)

Title: Ancestry access from home via library
Post by: Watson on Monday 10 January 22 14:10 GMT (UK)

I am having a friendly discussion with my local library about access to Ancestry from home.  Our service ended as of 31 December 2021, and I gather this affected all libraries in the country who subscribe to Ancestry for their customers.

Two question for you, please.

1. Are there library users still accessing Ancestry from home?

2. Have there been similar library home use facilities for FindMyPast and historical newspapers websites?

Thanks in anticipation.

Title: Re: Ancestry access from home via library
Post by: Ellenmai on Monday 10 January 22 14:33 GMT (UK)

Here in Wales the access from home ended 31/12/2021 but we have access in our library to Ancestry, Find my Past & The British Newspaper Archive. Further afield The National Library in Wales at Aberystwyth you can get free access to the 1921 Census.

Title: Re: Ancestry access from home via library
Post by: phil57 on Monday 10 January 22 15:56 GMT (UK)

The access was terminated by Ancestry, who have overall control of access to their library edition, which is accessed through a different portal to the standard edition of Ancestry.

As I understand it, Ancestry allowed access to Library Edition via home devices connected through their local library service portal for a duration during the coronavirus pandemic, when access to public libraries was either not possible or restricted.

Since Ancestry have control over access to their Library Edition I'm not sure how an individual library can influence that when Ancestry have terminated the agreement.

To answer your questions:

1. There shouldn't be, as Ancestry have terminated the access arrangements. The intermediary login provided through my county library service is no longer accessible.

2. My local library service also have access to FindMyPast through library terminals, but the FindMyPast service wasn't accessible from home computers in my area, unlike Ancestry.

Title: Re: Ancestry access from home via library
Post by: Watson on Wednesday 12 January 22 10:53 GMT (UK)

Thanks for your replies, Ellenmai and phil57.  Appreciated.

Title: Re: Ancestry access from home via library
Post by: phil57 on Wednesday 12 January 22 11:39 GMT (UK)

@Watson, this might also be of interest. Proquest operate Library Edition on Ancestry's behalf.

https://proquest.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=64363631

Title: Re: Ancestry access from home via library
Post by: Mocummings on Saturday 15 January 22 17:20 GMT (UK)

During the pandemic Cornwall libraries allowed members access to FindMyPast from home, via a council  link. 
That stopped once the libraries opened again and access to their computers resumed. Cornwall library service doesn’t subscribe to Ancestry.