As most genealogists have already heard by now, FamilySearch is discontinuing its microfilm lending program. Although the news has been met with a mix of panic and resignation by genealogists, the good news is that it's not too late to order film. The order deadline is August 31st, so even if your local Family History Centre has limited opening hours over the summer, if you can at least get your film ordered prior to this date, you should be able to view it in the fall when normal Family History Centre hours resume.

Maybe instead of bemoaning what we may have lost, we should ask ourselves what, as genealogists, we can do to help? Anyone can sign up to volunteer to transcribe the records on FamilySearch, and the more that is digitized, the more that we can transcribe. The more records that are transcribed, the more useful and valuable the records are for everyone. So remember, as you enjoy using the records, make sure to budget a bit of time to give back as well!

Let us thank FamilySearch for their service to all genealogists, and to wish them great success in acquiring digitization rights for as many microfilms as possible, so that we can again enjoy access to these valuable historical materials!