There are 134 locations in Canada that have affiliate library status with FamilySearch. That’s according to this tabulation at the FamilySearch wiki. Ontario has 86, Quebec 19, Alberta 12, British Columbia, Nova Scotia 5 and Prince Edward Island 1.
Don’t take the listing as gospel. The Toronto Public Library is listed once although there’s access at all branches AFAIK., whereas 6 locations are listed in Burlington.
There’s no affiliate library access at all in Ottawa!!!!!
The closest would appear to be Biblotheque et archives nationales Du Quebec- BAnQ Gatineau at 855, boulevard de la Gappe.
There’s also Eastern Ontario access via the Mississippi Mills Public Library – Almonte Branch at 155 High Street, Almonte; Mississippi Mills Public Library – Pakenham Branch, 128 MacFarlane Street, Pakenham; Upper Ottawa Valley Genealogical Group at 222 Dickson St., Pembroke; Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 130 Johnson Street, Kingston; and Madawaska Valley Public Library at 19474 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay.
According to a recent blog post on Irish Genealogy News:
“The difference between accessing FamilySearch.org from your personal device and searching via an Affiliate Library terminal is that you can access a portion of FamilySearch’s digitised microfilms that researchers cannot view via regular Internet access.
The FamilySearch wiki suggests the Affiliate computer will give you up to an additional 400 million records. So, if your regular computer is showing the camera icon with a key symbol above it alongside the name of the collection you want to search, you probably need to visit an affiliate library. Check with the library before travelling, though, as it’s possible access to that particular collection may be available only at a Family History Center (FHC).”
OPL has been requested to provide this (free) service, but has refused to offer it to its clients.
Has OPL told you why? I just don’t understand it…Many major library systems in Canada (Vancouver, Toronto, Biblotheque et archives nationales Du Quebec) – it just seems odd. It’s not like it costs money…
I’m shocked that the OPL has NO branches that are ALs. I can understand not all of them, but you’d think that central and some of the branch libraries would have that designation. Perhaps it’s just a case of them not having someone on staff with a strong interest in genealogy who has looked into it. Or they figure with the FHC on Prince of Wales it’s not necessary.
When I first heard about the program I felt for sure it wouldn’t work for my library, then I found out it was free and just required a bit of paperwork. The whole process was pretty painless and Cheryl, who is the point person at FamilySearch, is fantastic.
Hopefully at some point the situation at OPL will change.
Our genealogical society in BC (BCGS) complied with the standards needed to become an affiliate library – not challenging. And the additional access is very helpful!! As Teresa above commented, the process is pretty painless. And the results are very valuable for our members and others using our genealogical library of over 18,000 books, plus umpteen journals. I’d encourage more libraries to become an Affiliate Library.
Just to add a bit of clarification… the Central Branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) was accepted in to the FamilySearch Affiliate Library program several months ago, after years of asking KFPL to make it happen. The FamilySearch side was smooth, easy & quick. But, as of 20 August, KFPL staff continue to drag their heels on set-up. No access to this service is available presently, and I’ve been advised that access may not be possible for several more months.