Tours & Group Visits

Tours, organizations, and other groups are welcome to visit the library.

Planning Your Group's Visit

We welcome all individuals or groups to visit the library. We ask that visiting groups give advanced notice of their planned visit so that we can ensure the proper staff, classrooms, floor space, and resources are available. Please consider the following when planning a group visit to the Family History Library.

Notify the Family History Library of your group visit.: Use the Visiting Group Registration Form below to let us know when you are coming. We prefer at least three months notice. Be sure to specify geographical area of interest or other specific requests when filling in the form.
Make sure the Family History Library is open.: Check the Family History Library's hours and holiday schedule.
Make sure your group is prepared.: This is the group leader's responsibility. Have all members of the group (including youth) review the Preparing to Visit the Library section of this site.
Request an orientation for your group.: Group orientations are provided by library staff free of charge. Standard group size is 60 or less people. Special situations allow us to accomodate a maximum of 100 people.
Request a meeting rooms for your group's use.: For more info call (801) 240-3963 or (801) 240-2232.
Look at the Library Class Schedule for classes being offered.: All classes are arranged in advance. They are free of charge and open to the public.

Visiting Group Registration Form

Group Information

Group Name

Number of Visitors

Visit Begins

Visit Ends

Group Orientation Request

Would your group like an orientation?

Orientation Date

Orientation Time

Special Requests

Contact Information

Contact Name

Does this person have access to e-mail?

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