Introduction to Family History Centers: Difference between revisions

== '''Ward, Stake and Multi-Stake Family History Centers''' ==

Family History Centers vary greatly in size, hours staffed, and resources available.(See: Allen, James B.; Jessie L. Embry; Kahlile B. Mehr. ''Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah''. Provo: BYU Studies, 1995.) Because of changing demographics, many smaller FHCs are closing and resources being directed into "Library Class" facilities similar to the Los Angeles Family History Library, but not like the Riverton FamilySearch Center that has computers only. (See: Mormontimes.com" [http://www.mormontimes.com/article/13734/Family-history-centers-in-Salt-Lake-area-will-be-consolidated Family history centers in Salt Lake area will be consolidated], Shill, Aaron, Mormon Times, Deseret News Publishing Company, accessed June 7, 2010.)

'''Ward FHC'''

The "Ward FHC" is the smallest consisting of at least one computer, related family history programs, most likely internet access and has the most variable hours per week due to the volunteer staff. The Ward FHC may or may not have a dedicated room for their FHC since most ward buildings are designed for multiple use. They may or may not have microfilm or microfiche readers.(See: Family History Center Operations Guide, updated 2008, produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.)

'''Stake FHC<br>'''The "Stake FHC", representing about 4 to 6 ward or branches units, is the next in size consisting of two or more computers, related family history programs, internet access and usually has better hours per week than Ward FHCs. Stake FHCs may have a small collection of CDs, books and local historical material. The Stake FHC usually has a dedicated room staffed by volunteers. Most have microfilm or microfliche readers and the ability to order film/fliche from Salt Lake City FH library.(See: Family History Center Operations Guide, updated 2008, produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.)  

'''Multi-Stake FHC'''

The "Multi-Stake FHCs" represents two or more Stakes units consisting of 8 or more wards and/or branches. These have larger dedicated areas of a Stake Center or a separate building for the use of the FHC. These larger FHCs have dedicated book, microfilm, and mircofliche areas. They have 6 or more computers with varied phone line, cable, or satellite internet access, family history software and often insitutional version of Ancestry.com, Footnote.com and maybe other paid access sites. All have microfilm or microfliche readers and the ability to order film/fliche from Salt Lake City FH library. Most have local area family history material, but are '''not''' "Library Class" facilities.(See: Family History Center Operations Guide, updated 2008, produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.) <br>'''Regional Branch Libraries now called Large Multi-Stake FHCs<br>'''The "Regional Branch Libraries" of the Salt Lake City Family History Library are considered "Library class" facilities. These were complete with dedicated internal server and a library catalogs or card catalogs for their collections. In 2010, the ''regional branch libraries were redesignated as "Large Multi-Stake FHCs"'' on the FamilySearch website. However a supplement to the ''Family History Center Operations Guide'' dated January 5, 2006 was the administartive date for these FHC renaming. Supervision of these facilities are under the Area Presidency or assigned to a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. These facilities are still considered Salt Lake City Genealogical branch libraries and often have book collections in the thousands, microfilm &amp; microfliche in the tens of thousands, dozens of internet connected computers and microfilm &amp; microfliche readers and some digital scanners. All have dedicated servers with DSL, cable or T-1 internet access. In addition all had at least one multi-use classroom, and several research areas.(See: Family History Center Operations Guide, updated 2008, produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. AND&nbsp;Family History Center Operations Guide, Supplement for Large Multistake Family History Centers, dated January 5, 2006, produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah. AND Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, Section 9, "Temple and Family History Work.)

These branch libraries have a dedicated non-paid full-time director (usually a husband/wife team) and dozens of volunteer staff..&lt;Ref name=fhc2/&gt; In many cases non-church member volunteers serve from the community. Local genealogy groups often support these library facilities seeing non-LDS patron use higher than local LDS usage.&lt;ref name=Allen/&gt; While the LDS Church as renamed most of them, their websites reflect older names. The following is a list of Regional Family History Centers redesignated Large Multi-Stake Family History Centers:<br>{{Div col}}<br>*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~idsrfhc/ Idaho Falls Regional Family History Center], Idaho Falls, Idaho<br>*[http://www.familyhistorylv.org/ Las Vegas Regional Family History Center], Las Vegas, Nevada<br>*[http://www.londonfhc.org/ London Family History Centre], Hyde Park, London, England<br>*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~utcfhc/ Logan Utah Regional Family History Center], Logan, Utah<br>*[http://www.lafhl.org/ Los Angeles Family History Library], Los Angeles, California<br>*[http://www.mesarfhc.org/ Mesa Arizona Regional Family History Center], Mesa, Arizona<br>*[http://www.oaklandfhc.org/ Oakland Regional Family History Center], Oakland, California<br>*[http://www.orfhc.org/ Ogden Regional Family History Center], Ogden, Utah<br>*[http://www.orangefhc.info/ Orange Regional Family History Center], Orange, California<br>*[http://prfhc.net/ Pocatello Regional Family History Center], Pocatello, Idaho<br>*[http://www.familyhistorycenter.info/ Sacramento Regional Family History Center], Sacramento, California<br>*[http://www.familyhistorycenter.org/ St. George Regional Family History Center], St. George, Utah&lt;ref&gt;Main web site under construction, but [http://wchsutah.org/people/stg-fhtc/BookCatalog.htm click here] for information on collections. [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp Click here] for name clarification.&lt;/ref&gt;<br>*[http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/San_Diego_Family_History_Library San Diego Regional Family History Center], San Diego, California<br>{{Div col end}}

 

'''FamilySearch Library<br>'''In June of 2010, The LDS Church closed down many smaller FHCs in ther Salt Lake Valley and opened the Riverton FamilySearch Library. The title is a misnomer since this facility has no books or magazines. This facility has computers only. It is unknown if this will be a trend for future FHCs.&lt;ref name="mormontimes.com"/&gt;  

== Finding a Family History Center ==

*Click on the link at the end of this paragraph, then type the name or location of the center you are looking for in the blue box ("FamilySearch Centers"), and click&nbsp; the "Search" button. If you do not find what your looking for, try the "Advanced Search", where you can add additional search terms. [https://www.familysearch.org/locations Click here to proceed.]<br><br>

*Telephone FamilySearch support at 1-866-406-1830 (in North America) or 00-800-1830-1830&nbsp;(in the United Kingdom).&nbsp; For other international&nbsp;locations, please refer to the [[Help:FamilySearch Support E-mail and Worldwide Telephone Directory]] <br><br>

*Check your local phone directory under "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." &nbsp;Call and ask for the location of a center in your area. <br><br>

*After you have located the one you want to visit, refer to its web page at [[:Category:Family History Centers]]. Select the Country and then the State or Province where the Family History Center resides. Find the center on the list and check its web page for hours, research facilities, etc. (Just be aware that many of these Family History Centers are not updated as yet.)<br><br>

 

Each center has unique hours of operation, and may have changed from the hours posted on our site.&nbsp; It is a good idea to call the center for their scheduled hours before you visit.