FamilySearch Library

{{short description|Genealogical library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}

{{ infobox library

| library_name = FamilySearch Library

| name_en =

| library_logo =

| image = Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Utah - 2 May 2020.jpg

| caption = Entrance to the Library

| country = United States

| type = Genealogy Library

| established = 1894

| location = Salt Lake City, Utah

| coordinates = {{coord|40|46|13.44|N|111|53|39.3108|W|display=inline,title}}

| branch_of = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

| num_branches = 6,300+ (2024)
FamilySearch Center{{Cite web|title=FamilySearch.org Facts - Updated April 2024|url=https://www.familysearch.org/en/newsroom/company-facts|access-date=April 13, 2024}}

| items_collected =

| collection_size = 1.3 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 190,000 microfiche; 340,000 books, serials, and other formats; and 125,500 periodicals{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/familysearch-library?lang=eng|title=FamilySearch Library|website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|access-date=October 15, 2024 }}

| criteria =

| annual_circulation =

| pop_served =

| director = Lynn Turner

| num_employees =

| website = [https://familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library]

| references =

}}

The FamilySearch Library (FSL), formerly the Family History Library, is a genealogical research facility in downtown Salt Lake City. The library is open to the public free of charge and is operated by FamilySearch, the genealogical arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

History

The origins of the FSL can be traced to the founding of the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) in 1894. Through time the FSL has changed locations within Salt Lake City as follows:

The GSU's first library was located in the office of the Church Historian, 58 E. South Temple Street{{cite web | url=http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHL/frameset_library.asp?PAGE=library_history.asp | title=History of the Family History Library | publisher=FamilySearch.org | access-date=11 March 2010}}
Church Administration Building, 47 E. South Temple Street (1917–1933)
80 N. Main Street (1934–1962)
100 S. Main Street (1962–1971)
Church Office Building, 50 E. North Temple Street (1972–1985)
35 N. West Temple Street (1985–Present)

The current building, just west of Temple Square was opened on October 23, 1985, and cost $8.2 million.{{cite news |title=Happy 25th birthday, Family History Library! |author=R. Scott Lloyd |newspaper=Church News |date=23 October 2010 |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2010-10-23/happy-25th-birthday-family-history-library-36257 |access-date=10 November 2010}}

In 1938, the GSU began to microfilm records which contained genealogical data from around the world, and today this microfilm makes up much of the library's collection. Today the GSU is more commonly known as FamilySearch, and in September 2021, completed digitizing many of its microfilm collections to be shared online. In 2017, the FHL opened a new center for interactive discovery experiences.[https://www.standard.net/lifestyle/faith/lds-family-history-library-opens-new-center-for-interactive-experiences/article_d628ec2c-2099-520a-bfab-de264bdf8060.html "LDS Family History Library opens new center for interactive experiences"], Standard-Examiner, 11 February 2017. Retrieved on 4 April 2021.

On January 10, 2023, the LDS Church announced a name change for the library. The former Family History Library would be known as the FamilySearch Library and family history centers would be known as FamilySearch Centers (FSC).{{cite press release|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/familysearch-library-familysearch-centers|title=The Family History Library Is Now the FamilySearch Library|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|date=January 10, 2023|access-date=June 15, 2023}}

=1999 shooting=

On April 15, 1999, 70-year-old Sergei Babarin entered the library's lobby and began shooting.{{Cite web |date=1999-04-16 |title=Son begged doctors to help deluded dad |url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/4/16/19440401/son-begged-doctors-to-help-deluded-dad/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250620015905/https://www.deseret.com/1999/4/16/19440401/son-begged-doctors-to-help-deluded-dad/ |archive-date=June 20, 2025 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} A security officer and one female patron were killed while several others were injured. One hour and 45 minutes{{cite news |title= Library shooting incident -- the key events A chronology from 10:30 a.m. to just after 5 |newspaper= Deseret News |date= April 16, 1999 |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/691795/Library-shooting-incident----the-key-events.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121021225517/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/691795/Library-shooting-incident----the-key-events.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 21, 2012 |access-date= 2013-02-19 }} after the shooting began, Salt Lake police shot and fatally wounded Babarin in an exchange of gunfire.{{Cite news |last=Brooke |first=James |date=1999-04-16 |title=3 Are Killed And 5 Hurt In Shootout In Utah City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/16/us/3-are-killed-and-5-hurt-in-shootout-in-utah-city.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250620020030/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/16/us/3-are-killed-and-5-hurt-in-shootout-in-utah-city.html |archive-date=June 20, 2025 |access-date=2025-06-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The assailant discharged 20 bullets during his assault, and two police officers discharded 4, one of which struck the assailant in the head, who later died in an ambulance. The prosecutor ruled that the officers shooting was justified and they where not charged.{{Cite web |date=1999-04-28 |title=4 officers cleared in 2 shootings Probers say force justified in library assault, bank heist |url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/4/28/19442655/4-officers-cleared-in-2-shootings-br-probers-say-force-justified-in-library-assault-bank-heist/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250620014333/https://www.deseret.com/1999/4/28/19442655/4-officers-cleared-in-2-shootings-br-probers-say-force-justified-in-library-assault-bank-heist/ |archive-date=June 20, 2025 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} Babarin's family indicated he had a history of schizophrenia, a claim not corroborated by the Valley Community Mental Health Clinic.{{cite news |title= Infamous shooting incidents in Salt Lake County |first= Wendy |last= Ogata |newspaper= Deseret News |date= 13 February 2007 |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660195182/Infamous-shooting-incidents-in-Salt-Lake-County.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110111044658/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660195182/Infamous-shooting-incidents-in-Salt-Lake-County.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 11, 2011 |access-date= 2013-02-19 }} This occurred only four months after a separate shooting incident a block away at the Triad Center.

Purpose

FamilySearch's main purpose is to connect generations of family—past, present, and future—all over the world. The LDS Church believes that families, sealed together through saving ordinances in its temples, are eternal. Family members who die without the opportunity to perform these ordinances for themselves are able to receive them via proxy, which motivates the church's emphasis on family history work.{{cite web | url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/family-history | title=Family History | work=churchofjesuschrist.org | publisher=LDS Church | access-date=March 11, 2010 }}

Services

The FSL is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the largest genealogical library in the world.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-02 |title=FamilySearch's census records work a gold mine for historians, genealogists |url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/apr/02/familysearchs-census-records-work-a-gold-mine-for/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Arkansas Online |language=en}} The library holds genealogical records for over 100 countries, territories, and possessions. Its collections include over 1.3 million rolls of microfilmed records onsite and access the total collection of more than 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 190,000 microfiche; 340,000 books, serials, and other formats; 125,000 periodicals; 3,725 electronic resources including subscriptions to the major genealogical websites.{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/familysearch-library?lang=eng|title=FamilySearch Library| publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|access-date=October 15, 2024}}

The FSL offers research assistance to help patrons trace their own family history. Professional genealogists and volunteers offer assistance in about 30 languages, which includes reading and translating genealogically relevant documents. The FSL also offers free one-on-one consultations on difficult research problems. Additionally, there are classes on genealogical research topics free to the public{{cite web | url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/education/frameset_education.asp?PAGE=education_library_classes.asp%3FActiveTab=4 | title=Family History Library Classes | publisher=FamilySearch.org | access-date=March 11, 2010}} and classes available online.{{cite web | url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/education/frameset_education.asp?PAGE=education_research_series_online.asp%3FActiveTab=2 | title= Research Series Classes Online | publisher=FamilySearch.org | access-date=March 11, 2010}}

= In-Person services =

Photo, film, 35mm slide and book scanners to digitize family records.
Recording booths to preserve your family stories and memories.
Activities, classes and workshops for people of all ages and skill levels.
Open access to thousands of record collections, publications and microfilms.
Children's area, which allows parents to do computer research and watch their children at the same time.

= Online services =

Online access to FamilySearch.org and other subscription genealogical websites.
Free online family history classes and webinars.
Free online genealogy consultations with FamilySearch Library experts.

Branches

Branches of the FSL are FamilySearch Centers. While there are over 6,300 FSCs operating in more than 149 countries there are only about 17 major regional branch library class facilities. The others are usually located in ward, branch, and stake facilities of the LDS Church with at least one or more genealogical computers.{{cite web | url=http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhc/frameset_fhc.asp?PAGE=library_fhc_about.asp | title=About Family History Centers | publisher=FamilySearch.org | access-date=March 11, 2010 }}