Using Ancestry Library Edition

posted in: Benefits, Resources, USA | 0

The Vermont Genealogy Library has been providing a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition since 2015 on the computers located at our Dupont Hall library. It is the most popular of our online subscriptions, which also include:

  • AmericanAncestors.org (New England’s #1 resource)
  • GenealogyQuebec (the best French-Canadian database)
  • America’s Civil War Database (Union & Confederate)

Many of our members are familiar with the functioning of personal accounts at Ancestry.com but are surprised when searches work differently with Ancestry Library Edition (ALE). The primary reason for this is that ALE will not link to that person’s individual account. It is designed to provide access to the billions of historical records at Ancesty.com but not to those tools which connect an individual to other users.

A few of the features that are not available at ALE are:

  • communications with other users
  • connection to your DNA results & genetic matches
  • publishing services
  • One World Tree
  • Obituary Collection
  • Historical Newspapers

But, from the perspective of historical records, over 99% of those resouces are still accessible for users of ALE at libraries and societies that provide it.. And the records at ALE are not just from the U.S. – this is an AncestryWorld subscription.

If you encounter difficulties using ALE at our library please contact our volunteers and they will explain what you should expect to obtain with a search as well as what is off-limits without your own personal subscription.

If you would like more details on the differences between these two types of accounts at Ancestry.com you can go to their explanation HERE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *