Family
History Library Begins Construction of New Discovery Center
Salt Lake City, Utah (October 10,
2016)--The popular
Family
History Library in downtown Salt Lake City has begun construction on its
new
Family
History Discovery Center. When complete, the main floor attraction will
create family history experiences for patrons of all ages. The project is on a
fast track to be completed in February 2017. Admission will be free to the
public.
"We have been excited for quite some time to start construction on the
new discovery ce
nter," said Tamra Stansfield, manager of
the Family History Library. "Our guests, particularly those who are
completely new to family history, will be able to enjoy fun, personal
discoveries through interactive technological experiences with their family's
history."
Stansfield said the new center will make the library another unique and
exciting destination for locals, families, and youth groups, as well as for
tourists of all ages visiting Utah or Temple Square from around the world.
The Family History Library is the flagship facility in a network of over
4,900 family history centers worldwide managed by FamilySearch International, a
nonprofit subsidiary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The
fun, engaging activities designed for the discovery center are part of an
organizational effort to introduce more people to the many fun facets of
personal and family discovery.
FamilySearch is learning that if individuals and families have fun,
personalized, quick successes and experiences with their family’s history, they
will continue to be more involved at different levels throughout their lives.
It also deepens appreciation for family connections across multiple
generations.
The new discovery center will create a fun environment for families to
discuss their family history together in inviting, unexpected ways. Youth
particularly will enjoy the life-size touch-screen computer monitors for some
of the interactive stations. In addition, there will be an enclosed space for
parents with smaller children that will allow them to explore their family
history while also being able to observe their children play.
A fun green-screen feature will let guests choose from a variety of themed
backgrounds to create a lasting photo memory of their visit to the discovery
center.
The new transformations are designed to offer unique interactive and
immersive discovery experiences for visitors of all ages while still offering
the vast collections and expertise the library is known for among family
history enthusiasts and researchers.
When the new discovery center opens, "We expect to find the next
generation of dedicated family historians at play in our library," said
Stansfield.
Many of the interactive features in the new discovery center will use a
patron's family history in the FamilySearch.org Family Tree to create custom
learning experiences at a variety of stations. Stansfield suggests individuals
and families take the time now during construction to create a free account at
FamilySearch.org from home and begin building their family tree, adding
favorite family stories and photos together. A developed family tree will
enhance their experience when the discovery center opens in 2017.
The Family History Library's staff and other typical services and historic
record collections will continue to be accessible during the construction of
the discovery center.
The prototype
discovery
center currently located in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake
City will be closed to the public once the new center is opened in 2017 but
will continue to operate as a FamilySearch development lab, where future
experiences can be created and tested. A smaller discovery center was opened
earlier this year in Seattle, Washington.
If you would like to follow the new center's construction progress, a
time-lapse camera link is available online
here.
Find this news release and more artist's renderings of the new discovery
center online
here.
###
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 4,921 family history centers in 129 countries,
including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
