Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog: Difference between revisions

The Family History Library Catalog describes the records available at the Family History Library. It is a guide to family histories; birth, marriage, and death records; census records; church registers; and many other records that may contain genealogical information. These records may be in a book, on microfiche or microfilm, or in a computer file. Most microfilm and microfiche records can be sent to your nearest family history center.

Before you use the Family History Library Catalog, choose a person you want to find more information about, and decide what you want to learn about him or her. For example, you may want to find your great-grandmother's death date and place. To do this, you need to decide what types of records are likely to contain that information.

== What Catalog Search Should I Do? ==

Use the following table to determine what type of search to do:

{|

'''Do This Type of Search:'''

</div>

'''To Find the Following Types of Catalog Entries:'''

|-

Catalog entries about a place or that contain records from a place.

|-

Catalog entries about a family name.

|-

Catalog entries that contain certain words.

|-

Catalog entries that have certain words in their titles.

|-

Catalog entries that have a certain microfilm or microfiche number.

|-

Catalog entries by or about the same author.

|-

Catalog entries about a certain subject.

|-

Catalog entries that have a certain call number.

|}

== What If I Do Not Find the Catalog Entries I Want? ==

'''Note:''' The Family History Library does not have all records. The Library is constantly acquiring new materials. If you cannot find the items you need, check the catalog at a later date to see if the library has acquired those items.