The Family History Library
Resources Galore
The collection includes over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 727,000 microfiche; 356,000 books, serials, and other formats; over 4,500 periodicals; and 3,725 electronic resources.
Take Your "Stuff" With You
First, it should be noted that you may bring in your "stuff." Take your laptop, briefcase full of family group sheets, your maps, ancestor charts, notebooks, and anything else you might need while working in the library. Sure, you may be asked to open your briefcase on the way out - but chances are you won't. The Library has a fantastic security system protecting the valuable books and films held there. Thieves can't get out the door with them - so this means you can bring your stuff in and out without much bother.
It's Easy to Locate What You Need
Not only is the Library user friendly, but the resources are arranged in a logical order, making the locating of books, films, maps and so forth pretty easy to do.
There's More Room at the Library
The Library underwent extensive remodeling and expansion several years ago. Then Covid hit, and they had an empty library to redo. And they made changes that we could only cream about. Many changes have been made. If you haven't used the library lately, you'll find it vastly changed and improved. December is traditionally a slow month at the Library. This means that access to photocopiers, computers, film printers and digitizers is easier than ever. The copy centers on each floor have been opened up, allowing more room and easier access.
Library Hours
The Family History Library is open during the Salt Lake Christmas Tour from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday & Saturday with shorter hours. It's open from 1 to 5 PM - for the Discovery Experience on Main Floor - on Sundays. However, we all expect that it will be back to 9 to 9 hours, six days a week by 2022.
Library Staff
The library currently has approximately 125 full-time and part-time professional staff - in addition to another 700 trained volunteers. The desks are manned by a mix of professionals and volunteers, dependent on patron needs. Note - in August of 2021 I know that these numbers have changed, reflecting Covid and the reduced numbers of employees and patrons.
Laptop Computers
Laptops are welcomed in the library and many patrons use them at the work-tables as well as alongside their microfilm readers. Even though the library is a safe environment you should always attach a security device to your laptop. There have been reports of theft at the Library. Chances of items like personal genealogy notebooks being stolen are extremely low, but not for high-tech equipment. . Bring a short network cable with you if you wish to hook into the Library network.
Photocopies
There are book photocopiers throughout the library for patron use. A nominal fee (currently 5 cents per page) is charged for each copy. Color copies are also available at a higher fee. No fee is applied if downloading the copies to a flash drive. The new work stations allow for super-easy copying at your desk. Patrons use pre-paid shopping cards to pay for their photocopies. You don't need to worry about bringing a roll of dimes with you.
Digitized Images
Digital images are produced when copying pages from books, microfilm or microfiche resources. New book scanners are now in place. The patron may save the image to a flash drive or print them directly to a printer. Copying images to a flash drive is FREE. Printing to the printers require a small fee per page.
For more information about the Family History Library