Introduction to Family History Centers: Difference between revisions

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-Family history centers are branch facilities of the LDS Church's Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Although millions of the library's records are available on the Internet at [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org], the vast majority of information is not digitized. A much larger collection of microfilms, microfiche, books, and CDs are available through the Family History Library. If you cannot make a personal visit to the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHL/frameset_library.asp Family History Library] (FHL), you can make use of many of these resources through a local family history center (FHC).
+Family History Centers (FHCs) are branches of [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch] and the Family History&nbsp;Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (United States), located all over the world. Their goal is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy and family history by:
-There are 4,500 family history centers around the world. Most centers are located in meetinghouses and stake centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Everyone is welcome to visit the centers and use their resources. Family history centers provide patrons access to the Family History Library's microfilm and microfiche on a loan basis at a minimal cost.&nbsp;(The library's book and CD collections do not circulate.)&nbsp;Family history centers also provide free access to many subscription websites, including [http://www.footnote.com/ Footnote.com], [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/ WorldVitalRecords.com], [http://www.gale.cengage.com/servlet/ItemDetailServlet?region=9&imprint=000&titleCode=M355E&cf=e&type=4&id=242585 19th Century British Newspapers] and others.&nbsp;Larger centers may have access to [http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] (the institution edition).
+*Giving personal one-on-one assistance to patrons
+*Providing access to genealogical records, and
+*Offering free how-to classes (varies by location)
-Family history centers are staffed by volunteers who can show you how to search for records of your family. There are several ways to find the nearest center:
+As of April 2011, there were more than 4,600 FHCs in 105 countries. There is no cost to visit a Family History Center, and they are open to anyone with an interest in genealogical research. They are operated by [http://mormon.org/ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)].<br>
-#Go to [https://library.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org],&nbsp;and&nbsp;enter your&nbsp;information in the&nbsp;Find a FamilySearch Center near you field. (For areas outside the United States, enter the city and country.)
+== Finding a Family History Center  ==
-#Call FamilySearch support at 1-866-408-1830 (United States only).&nbsp;
-#Check your local phone directory under "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" for a family history center listing.
-On FamilySearch.org, when you select the center you would like to visit, you see the address, typical hours of operation, and contact information for the center.&nbsp;Each center has unique hours of operation.&nbsp;Because the&nbsp;centers are operated by volunteers,&nbsp;the hours occasionally change. You may wish to call to confirm their hours before you visit.
+Most Family History Centers are located in LDS Church meetinghouse facilities (chapels and Stake Centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Everyone is welcome to visit the centers and use their resources. To find the center nearest you:
-A [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog catalog] of the Family History Library resources is available online.&nbsp;You can search for various types of information such as places, titles, last names, and subjects. Click the down arrow at the end of the Search field to see the types of information you can search for.
+#Go to [https://familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] and click on [[https://www.familysearch.org/locations FamilySearch Centers]]. If you’re in the United States, enter your city and state. If you live outside the United States, enter your City and Country. “Zoom out” on the results map to see results for a broader geography.
+#Call FamilySearch support at 1-866-406-1830 (United States only).
+#Many Family History Centers now have a page in FamilySearch Wiki. You might refer to their page to see in more detail on what materials and equipment they have. Go to [[:Category:Family History Centers|Family History Centers]] to check on the Family History Center you want to visit. (Be aware that few at present are up to date, but these pages are being added to on a regular basis.)
-If you find a listing for a microfilm or microfiche you would like to see, for a nominal fee you can request that a copy of it be sent to your local family history center. A staff member will place the order and notify you when the film or fiche arrives. When ordering microfilm or microfiche, be sure to provide clear contact information (address, phone number, e-mail address).
+== Visiting a Family History Center  ==
-You can see more details on [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Ordering_Microfilm_or_Microfiche_from_a_Family_History_Center ordering a microfilm or microfiche from a Family History Center].
+Family History Centers are locally operated and supervised. The facilities and resources of the centers differ by location, and range from small, “Computer-only” facilities that do not circulate film and are open only a few hours a week, to large centers open typical business hours with dozens of volunteers, computers, digital film readers, scanners, and printers to support the patrons’ use of extensive collections of books, periodicals, maps, microfilm and microfiche. <br>
-Microfilms are typically available at the center for one month and can be renewed if necessary.&nbsp;Microfilms have a 60-day loan period: 15 days to send the microfilm to the center; 30 days to review the microfilm at the center, and 15 days to&nbsp;return the microfilm to the library.&nbsp;You can ask to have the review period extended for another 30 days.&nbsp;Microfiche do not have to be returned to the Family History Library. Once copies of the microfiche are received, they can be held permanently at the center. Microfilm and microfiche loaned by the library must be viewed at a family history center.&nbsp;
+The centers are generally staffed by volunteer members of local congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-LDS genealogy enthusiasts from the community. Staff members are not paid for their services. More experienced volunteers may be able to assist patrons with specific research challenges.
-There is no charge to visit or use a family history center, its computers, or the Internet. Scanners, microfilm/fiche printers, and copiers are available in some centers at minimal cost to help cover the cost of paper and supplies. Costs for other services vary, but the following costs pertain to centers in the United States as of March 2009:
+Because the center hours, resources, and expertise of volunteer staff will vary widely, patrons with specific research questions may wish to call before visiting a center to find out who might be able to assist them, and the best time to visit.
-*Microfilms ordered in the United States: $5.50 per film.
+==== One-on-one assistance  ====
-*Book photocopies: Usually $0.05 per page
-*Microfilm/fiche copies: $0.25 per paper copy
-*Microfilm/fiche scan to your own disk or USB drive: free
-*Some FHCs have writable/rewritable CDs they can sell to patrons wishing to scan microform images to CD. Prices vary.
-''[NOTE: Need to explain the cost and the number of days a patron can use the films for short term loans and extended loans. What is a loan renewal and why would there be an extended loan renewal if the extended loan was for as long as a patron needed the film. This is confusing to me.]''
+Family History Center volunteers can show you how to use the center’s resources. To make your visit most effective, collect and organize the information you already have. Bring as much information as you have about the ancestor you wish to research, including available birth, marriage and death information.&nbsp; FHC&nbsp;staff can help you use that information to begin creating a [[Family group record: roadmap for researchers|Family Group Record]].
-Ask a staff member about current fees and ordering procedures.
+==== Genealogical records  ====
-To make your visit most effective, collect and organize the information you already have.&nbsp;A [[Family group record: roadmap for researchers|family group record]] is a good place to start.&nbsp;Bringing a completed family group record will help center staff more easily and effectively assist you in your search.
+Family History Centers provide free access to many subscription genealogy websites, including:
+*[http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/ 19th Century British Newspapers]
+*[http://alexanderstreet.com/products/cwld.htm Alexander Street Press] (American Civil War Collections)
+*[http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] (Family History Library edition)
+*[http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ FindMyPast]
+*[http://www.footnote.com/ Footnote.com]
+*[http://www.genline.com/ Genline FamilyFinder] (Swedish)
+*[http://www.godfrey.org/ Godfrey Memorial Library]
+*[http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index Heritage Quest]
+*[http://worldvitalrecords.com/ WorldVitalRecords.com]
+<br> Family History Center staff can also help you search the [[An overview of the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]], or you can search it yourself before visiting the center.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;[[An overview of the Family History Library Catalog|Family History Library Catalog]] is a catalog of the holdings of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the central library of FamilySearch which has been gathering genealogical records for over 115 years. Most of those records were recorded onto microfilm and microfiche. Copies of those 2.3 million rolls of microfilm and microfiche circulate to Family History Centers all over the world much like a public library’s inter-library loan system. The Family History Library's book and CD collections do not circulate.
+If you know what films or fiche you would like to order, you may want to bring a printed copy of the film description from the Family History Library Catalog. In many parts of the world, you may be able to order the film on-line and have it sent to the Family History Center nearest to you.<br>
+==== Free classes  ====
+Some Family History Centers may offer classes and special seminars. Larger centers may have their own on-line catalog. Information about a Family History Center’s hours and collections may be available through their FamilySearch wiki page.
+== Ordering Microfilm  ==
+The [https://familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library Catalog] is available online, and can be searched by [[Family History Library Catalog Place Search|place name]], family surname, resource title, [[Family History Library Catalog Author Search|author]], subject, [[Family History Library Catalog Call Number Search|call number]], [[Family History Library Catalog Film or Fiche Search|film number]] or [[Family History Library Catalog Keyword Search|key word]]. Click the down arrow at the end of the Search field to select the category of information you wish to search. If you find a film you’d like to view, you can order that film using the on-line film ordering if it is available in your area, or by paper Microfilm Request form at your local Family History Center, if on-line ordering is not available in your area. Online microfilm ordering is currently available in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Idaho, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, the UK, Utah South Area, and the Utah Salt Lake City Area.
+There is a small fee charged for ordering films and fiche that helps defray the cost of copying and shipping. There is no charge to view films from a center’s “Resident Film Collection.” Some Centers offer access to printers and digital scanners at a per-page cost. Check with a FHC Staff member to ask that Center’s fee schedule.
+Microfilms are typically available at the center for a set period of time which varies based on the center location and the way the film was ordered - generally 30 days for paper orders, or 60 days for online orders - and can be renewed if necessary. If you are not finished with a film when it is scheduled to be returned, you can ask to extend the film’s loan period. Films can become “permanent loan” status films and be made available at that center indefinitely. All microfiche ordered are automatically on "permanent loan."&nbsp; For more specific information about film ordering, ask a staff member at your local Family History Center for their film loan timeframe and extension process.
+All microfilm and microfiche must be viewed at the Family History Center where they were ordered. They cannot be transferred to another Family History Center facility, or be removed from the center to view at another location. <br>
 [[Category:General_information_about_Family_History_Centers]]