Ancestry library version query

[eagerlywaitingfor]

I went into my local library the other day to ask whether there was any access to the 1921 census, and got talking to the staff member about Ancestry. She said that the version they use isn't the full version that you can personally subscribe to, and you can't access all the information.

Has anyone used both? I'd be interested to know what the differences are, as I'm thinking of doing some more research soon and don't know whether to rely on the library one, or whether it will be too limited.

I've never used the library version, but I imagine that it's one of the cheaper options. For instance I don't pay for the package that gives me access to worldwide records. I doubt that the library one has access to those either.

If you want to see UK only records then it should be fine for now.

Personally I pay for the basic package on both Ancestry and Find My Past. They are both good in different ways and I often have both websites open and am constantly switching between the two of them.

One key difference is that you can't create family trees or join up with other people's trees. It will just be a database that you can search for information on.

@knittingaddict

One key difference is that you can't create family trees or join up with other people's trees. It will just be a database that you can search for information on.

I wouldn't want to do that anyway, I don't trust other people's research

The 1921 census will be exclusive to FindMyPast to begin with (i.e. not Ancestry).

I previously used our library remote login for FMP and found its level of access decreased over time. Ie. Foreign records and Newspaper Archive. 1921 census is exclusive to FMP and charged separately to the subscriptions.

It may also be the library only has the UK and Ireland membership rather than the full worldwide membership.

I have access to Find My Past through the library (online) and it's great, but you can't build your own tree on there and there are constant cookies pop-ups. Haven't come across any records I can't access, but I have a separate newspaper archive subscription anyway.

If you were thinking about joining Ancestry there are usually offers or codes if you dig about.

@JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue

The 1921 census will be exclusive to FindMyPast to begin with (i.e. not Ancestry).

Yes I know that. I went into the library to ask whether they had Find my past or not. Then when they said not, they said they did have Ancestry, but it wasn't the full version.

Hence my question on here about it.

The 1921 census would be useful to find some people on my mother's side - they anglicised their surname during WW1 to avoid persecution and I want to find out if they kept it or changed it back again. There's about 5 different spellings of it. Nightmare. To be honest though, I've got plenty of other things to follow up anyway. Several of my lines are stuck in the mid-1700's and I need parish registers. I've also got an ancestor's murder to research.

You can just buy access to individual records for 1921 census. You don't need a subscription. It's pay as you go as long as you register

The 1921 census is free to access at Kew and the library in Manchester.

@Einszwei

The 1921 census is free to access at Kew and the library in Manchester.

Haha, I'm midway between the two! It would cost more than a full subscription to travel there and back.

I'd probably have at least a hundred different records to look on the 1921 census, so it would be pointless paying for them individually. I think I'll wait until it becomes more easily available.

You pay per household entry you view not per individual.

@LIZS

You pay per household entry you view not per individual.

I would easily have a hundred households to view. I won't because who could afford that. Being disciplined is killing me and trying to work out the ones I really need is hard.

Annoyingly my great grandmother is in a different household to my great grandfather on the night of the census. Paying double has not delighted me.

I've got a lot of households to look at as well. When you've got people with surnames such as Carter and Smith, it's not easy to find the right household in London!