What Archives Are
- Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
What Libraries Are
- Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
Types of Records Found at an Archive or Library
Before You Visit an Archive or Library
- If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
- Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.
Archives and Libraries by Country
Strategies for Locating and Using Archives and Libraries