The Family History Library

Family History Library Video Series: Getting Started with English Research

Salt Lake City, Utah

Library Information

35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
(866) 406-1830

Driving Directions
Floor Plans
Parking

Hours

Mon: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue - Sat: 8:00am - 9:00pm

Holiday Hours
Tours & Group Visits

Come & learn about your heritage

Old Family photo in front of an antique car

If you've been wondering about your family history, come on in! You won't know who you are related to until you look. Visit the Family History Library, where you can delve into two million rolls of microfilmed records. Discover a feeling of belonging and history as you explore your family tree.

The Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints houses a collection of genealogical records that includes the names of more than 3 billion deceased people. It is the largest collection of its kind in the world.

Search the catalog of materials found at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Search the Library Catalog

Visitors often wish they had known what to bring or how to prepare to better use the limited time they had in the library.

Tips on visiting the Library View Library Floor Plans

Our Reference Consultants are here to help

Don't be afraid of tackling your history alone. Experienced guides and genealogists will help you in your search, and it's available to you free of charge.

Reference Consultants can help you use the Family History Library facilities, suggest sources for you to search, and answer basic questions such as how to get started, where a town is located, and what records are available for a locality and how to use them.

Consultations at the Library:

Schedule an appointment

Consultation by Telephone:

(866) 406-1830

Consultation by Fax or Email:

Fax: (801) 240-5551
Email: fhl@familysearch.org

Come to discover, Return to learn

The library regularly holds classes on the use of the library, its computer systems, family history records, and resources. For a list of classes, see Family History Library Classes.

Specialized classes teach patrons about methods of research and how to use various kinds of records, and computer classes educate patrons about the library's unique software programs.

Class Schedule

November 2009

Upcoming Events

6 June, 2009, Summer of Sleuthing

Find a Family History Center near you

There are more than 4,500 centers worldwide. Family History Centers are branch facilities of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Centers are designed to help members identify their ancestors and provide temple ordinances for them.

Most centers are located in meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Centers are administered and operated by local Church members.

Find a Family History Center

Advanced Search

Tips For The Beginner

Visitors often wish they had known what to bring or how to prepare to better use the limited time they had in the library. The following suggestions will help you get the most from your visit.

1Learn all you can about your family from home and family sources. Interview and correspond with family sources. Interview and correspond with family members, especially your older relatives. Find additional information at cemeteries, historical societies, and local record offices. Learn about family history resources at local public and academic libraries. Your relatives can save you time and get you started. For a full explanation of how to do this, read A Guide to Research or How to Start Your Family History.

2Search work done by others using the sources outlined in the two-part United States Previous Research. You should also use the Search for Ancestors feature of this web site. If you find your family in previous research sources, use the library to find original records to verify the information found.

3Look for others who may be currently working on your ancestors. Use the following Internet sources to see if anyone else is researching the names you discovered in the first two steps.

4It is helpful to visit a Family History Center first. At a center, try to use the printed materials, microfiche, and tools described previously. This can simplify your research and save time when you get to the Family History Library. For the nearest center, go to Find a Family History Center.

5Use the Family History Library Catalog and Research Guidance to select the records you wish to view when you get to theto the library. The catalog describes the library's records. It is the key to research in the library and at Family History Centers. Use the catalog to find the book, CD-ROM, microfilm, and microfiche numbers you need to obtain records.

6Use the Family History Library Catalog to determine if the films you need are immediately available in the library. Films listed in the catalog as "Vault" films may take up to three days to retrieve. You can request the microfilmsbefore you visit. For films from:

United States & Canada, (801) 240-7378
Films from British Isles, (801) 240-7379
Films from All others, (801) 240-2334
Fax (801) 240-1924

E-mail us your request

7Most documents are written in the language of the country where they were made. You usually do not need to know the foreign language to use the records, but learning a few key terms is helpful. Many language word lists are available online at Research Tips.

8Many records are handwritten, are in chronological rather than alphabetical order, and are not indexed. Allow plenty of time at the library when searching these types of records.

Tips For The Pro