FamilySearch Beta Preview

The following is a copied article
  • dated:            September 28, 2010
  • Posted by:    Dick Eastman
  • from:              Eastman's Online genealogy Newsletter

FamilySearch is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) and the web site at http://www.familysearch.org has become one of the more popular sites on the Internet. Now the public is able to access the latest version of the site even though it hasn't been formally launched.

The newest version, beta.familysearch.org, is up and running for the public, even though it carries the "beta" name, usually reserved for a test site on the Internet.

"Every 30 days, we are doing a pretty significant update," said Paul Nauta, manager of public affairs for Family Search. "We're getting ready for our official launch the first of next year."

In an article in the Standard-Examiner web site, Nauta is quoted as saying that almost weekly major announcements are made on the site about new offerings. He also said the site has something for everyone, from the newest beginners, who can learn from tutorials, to seasoned experts, who virtually live to do genealogy.

In September, in one week alone, 5 million records were added to the site, Nauta said. In the past 18 months, officials have added more than 450 collections of data.

"We've created a digital film reader," Nauta said. "Visitors can browse images, much like perusing microfilm."  You can read more in an article by JaNae Francis at http://www.standard.net/topics/genealogy/2010/09/27/lds-conference-preview-family-history-genealogy-becoming-web-based.
source:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2010/09/familysearch-beta-preview.html#more

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