Great news!

Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library – clients can access FamilySearch from a computer or laptop on site at any OPL branch.

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to helping all people discover their family stories. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is the largest genealogical organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history.

Benefits of an Affiliate Library

• Due to contractual obligations, some images are only viewable online through FamilySearch centres and Affiliate Libraries
• Through the affiliate program, OPL clients have access to over 350 million additional records that are otherwise restricted

Limitations

• OPL clients must be physically in a library branch to access restricted records, using either a library computer or their own laptop.

• Restricted records are not available remotely outside an Affiliate Library or FamilySearch Centre. This limitation is part of our Affiliate Library agreement and can’t be changed

There are three levels of digital records access from FamilySearch:

1. Clients can access FamilySearch services and resources Free online at FamilySearch.org.
2. Some records are only viewable online in FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries, including the OPL’s 33 branches, or in a FamilySearch centre
3. Some records are restricted to FamilySearch Centres only and are not accessible in Affiliate Libraries.

Here are two local FamilySearch Centres:

• Ottawa Ontario FamilySearch Centre: 1017 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3K1
• Chapel Hill Ontario FamilySearch Centre: 6255 Cumorah Street, Ottawa, ON K1C 6T7

Additional resources or help

FamilySearch offers a wide range of resources to help individuals and families explore their family history: Continue Your Discoveries at Home.

OPL hopes that by providing access to the digital genealogical records of FamilySearch that are otherwise restricted at all our 33 branches, along with our two existing English-language genealogy resources (Ancestry Library & MyHeritage Library Edition), clients can take their genealogy research to the next level!

OPL is here to help you find, gather, and connect with your families – past, present, and future!