(SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, 22 October 2015)—FamilySearch’s
Family History Library (FHL) in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, will
celebrate its 30th anniversary on October 2
3, 2015. When the new facility was completed in 1985, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was already considered the foremost
authority on family history research. During the past three decades, the library has been hailed by
genealogists as the top research and collections library in the world—a designation it still maintains—in part, because it has evolved to
keep pace with the changing demographics and demands of family researchers and the communities it serves.
“The Family History
Library in Salt Lake City is unique in all the world,” said Diane Loosle, director of the
world-renowned library. She explained the focus of the library has always been
to increase access to the world’s genealogical records and help patrons make personal family discoveries.
“To the family
historian, this library is like Disneyland,” says Loosle, “There’s no place like it. People dream for years of coming. It
is the largest facility of its kind and the largest of FamilySearch’s 4883
family history centers globally. Many people begin their journey of discovery
at one of our facilities.”
The Family
History Library has been attracting guests and visitors from all corners of the
world for three decades due to its expansive collection of resources and
knowledgeable staff. “Most mornings before the library opens, people begin to
queue up in front of the doors waiting to get in,” Loosle said.
It appears the
masterminds behind its construction had a vision of future demands. Plans that seemed almost grandiose when construction of the edifice was announced in
1983 have not only materialized, but have also led the way through the years to
accommodate ever-improving research and information gathering options. It has come a long way since
its humble beginnings in
1894 as a one- room
repository of the Genealogical Society of Utah, just around the corner and up the street in a
small building called the Church Historian’s Office at 58 E. South Temple.
The five-story
building in downtown Salt Lake City today continues to serve as a
repository and physical point of access for FamilySearch’s now billions of records. Instead of growing numbers of microfilm
and microfiche, the influx of new records today continues digitally through online indexing, patron submissions, partner exchanges, donations from
various government, religious and private entities and local records
preservation and access initiatives world-wide—most of which is available at FamilySearch.org.
The library continues to move with digital innovations, benefiting from the latest technology to preserve and provide access to the world’s genealogical records and increase the success of personal discovery. Progress in gathering, copying, and making records available has been dramatic and fast. Over 300 camera teams are digitally preserving historic records
worldwide—over 100 million images per year—that are published directly online.
In this age of 24/7
access to information and growing thirst for digital services, libraries across
the nation are evolving to meet the changing demands of the communities and
patrons they serve, and the Family History Library is no exception.
About 25 percent of the 2.4
million rolls of microfilm stored at the
Granite Mountain Vault have been digitally published online. The Family History Library itself
has about 1.5 million rolls on site. As physical films are digitized, they are removed from the
library. Insofar as possible, the records teams plan on digitally publishing all of the microfilm online for 24/7
access.
In 1985 family
history research was a very individual experience requiring each person
interested in a specific record to scroll through microfilm or search microfiche. In 1985 over 600
microfilm and fiche readers were housed in the Library. Though microfilms and fiche
still play an important, though less frequently used role, a large portion of
today’s research is now computer-based. Today the Family History Library
boasts 550
Internet-enabled patron computers while still providing access to over 200
film and fiche readers. The Library also offers free access to film, book, and
photo scanning equipment to help patrons
digitally preserve and share family records.
The library is the hub of a worldwide genealogical library system—including 4,883 satellite
branches in more than 100 countries—called FamilySearch Family History Centers
or affiliate libraries. The library began serving about
2,000 patrons a day or
700,000 a year in 1985, and today, with FamilySearch.org and its satellite branches, it serves over 45 million guests per year.
“We know that many
people will never have the opportunity to visit the Family History Library in
person,” said Loosle. “So FamilySearch has been expanding its reach. We want everyone who desires to discover their ancestors to
be able to do so, no matter where they live.”
Managing the Library Requires a Village
Visitors to the Family History Library find
an amazing collection of resources collected over 120 years and hosts of friendly people with
expertise available to help them. The Library delivers with an impressive cadre of 45 full and part-time
staff, and perhaps unprecedented for libraries, 550 full- and part-time volunteers or
“missionaries.” The volunteers hail from all over the world, many of them
dedicating up to 18 months—at their own expense—to help patrons make successful
discoveries.
The main floor of
the library is specifically designed to assist inexperienced patrons
in getting started. The floor has been outfitted with computers supported by volunteers trained to assist
beginners. Volunteers and expert reference
staff are also available for more in-depth
research on the other floors dedicated to records
from certain areas of the world.
On its lower level, for example, is found the largest
number of Chinese clan genealogies outside Mainland
China. This
level is also used for storing family histories, and overflow films, and
books available by request. Requests
for digitalization of these and other personal books can be requested here, and is done at another facility in Salt Lake or at many of the
Family History Centers and affiliate libraries.
“The library is not
a repository for original documents as is the
case with specialized archives; it is not an
archive in that sense,” noted David Rencher, chief genealogy officer for FamilySearch. “But it accepts donations of published works of
genealogical significance.” Books and serials are continually added to the library’s shelves—over
600,000 in fact—and the library is heading up an initiative with other public libraries to
digitally publish historic books of genealogical relevance online—over
225,000 have been digitally published online to-date.
Future of the Family History Library
The library is focused on continuing to expand access to the world’s
genealogical record collections to satisfy growing consumer demands. In 1985, the
average patron was mostly retirees or professional researchers. “Today, the patron faces are changing. It is common to see
working professionals, families, and even a growing number of youth amidst the
stereotypical retirees and serious researchers,”
said Loosle.
Loosle sees a bright future for the library.
“The library is still the best place to do family history research and will continue
to serve that purpose.” In
addition, the library has created a
lab for testing discovery concepts called the Discovery Center, a family-friendly area where
families, and
particularly young people, can begin the journey of self and family discovery through fun and engaging activities. Over time, similar experiences are planned to be incorporated in the Family
History Library. We anticipate the exciting additions will attract thousands
of new patrons who want to discover their family history.
The library will continue to develop and offer timely, free guest classes broadcasted as webinars. The schedules, necessary connection links, downloadable handouts, and recordings to past webinars are accessible online through the FamilySearch Wiki. The library also hosts a community block party in June. This year over 3,200
participants came and enjoyed a free family day including bounce houses, face painting, cultural
entertainment, family history centric activities and classes. The 2016
party is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 11.
###
About FamilySearch
FamilySearch
International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch
is a
nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of
people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about
their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its
predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical
records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services
and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family
history centers in 130 countries, including the main Family History Library in
Salt Lake City, Utah.
His latest book, 
After a successful
career in news journalism, Madison retired in 2011 and embarked on a search for
her grandfather Samuel Lowe, who returned to his native China after living in
Jamaica. Madison produced a documentary film on the topic, 
Stephen Rockwood is
the new president and CEO of FamilySearch International and managing director
for the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Prior to joining FamilySearch, Rockwood was a successful entrepreneur,
creating unique service offerings for worldwide customers and building several
businesses from the ground up. 
