Mormon Church
Helping You Track Your Genealogy
The Family History Library of Mormons in Salt Lake City has been always popular for the Genealogists. However, not all genealogists have the chance to get there.
For instance, if a genealogist is located in Sydney, Australia, he needs to travel a mere 12, 890 km. Aside from the fact that it will be a bit time consuming, and it will also be harsh in the purse.
Good thing, Family History Centers (FHCs) was founded. FCHs are branch libraries of Family History Library. And there are 3,400 FHCs that are operating in 64 countries.
These FHCs circulate a hundred thousand rolls of microfilm to its centers monthly. These microfilm rolls, along with the books and other resources of genealogy do not require the genealogists to travel a long distance anymore.
The FHCs are generally located in the easiest driving distance. This is because these centers are situated both in major cities and smaller communities.
Included in these centers are massive records that are of great genealogical value. Like for instance, census, probate, church records, vital, land and immigration.
There is no need to worry for any fee. FHCs records are accessible for the public for free. These are facilitated by volunteers from the church and community. They are the ones who lend assistance and answer the queries of the visitors.
FHCs are also funded by Church congregations in the locality. For this reason, these are usually situated in the church buildings.
These FHCs are also referred as satellite libraries. And other available resources here that are helpful for the search on genealogy include the genealogy records, family tree databases, genealogy books and maps and family histories.
Most of these FHCs contain massive book collections, series of microfilms as well as microfiche. And all of these may be viewed in any time.
Although, there are many instances wherein the FHCs cannot release the records requested by the researcher instantly. Some of these records are still requested by the FHCs from the main library, which is the Family History Library situated in Salt Lake City.
The request is done by the volunteer in the local FHC. Also, borrowing materials from the main library will require a small fee, roughly, $3.00 to $5.00 each film.
Normally, the records that you requested will take about 2 to 5 weeks before it arrives to the FHC in your locality. The record will remain in the local FHC for 3 weeks. Hence, you would have that span to view and study the record.
If you feel hesitant to visit the FHC because of the thought that these people might persuade you to join in their religion, then don't be. The Mormons, also known as The Latter Day Saints, believe that family is perpetual.
Therefore, they really encourage and support the family to track their ancestors.
It is a part of their mission to share the records they have accumulated to all the people, religion is not an issue.