PREPARING TO VISIT THE LIBRARY

1. Learn all you can about your family from home and family sources. Interview and correspond with family members, especially your older relatives. Find additional information at cemeteries, historical societies, and local record offices. Learn about family history resources at local public and academic libraries. Bring with you any information that links you to ancestors who lived before 1920. Information on people living in the 20th century is difficult to obtain due to privacy restrictions. Your relatives can save you time and get you started. For a full explanation of how to do this, read A Guide to Research or How to Start Your Family History. A printed publication you can order is How Do I Start My Family History? (publication number 32916)
2. Search work done by others using the sources outlined in the two-part United States Previous Research. You should also use the Search for Ancestors feature of this web site. If you find your family in previous research sources, use the library to find original records to verify the information found.
3. Look for others who may be currently working on your ancestors. Use the following Internet sources to see if anyone else is researching the names you discovered in the first two steps.
• RootsWeb surname list
  http://rsl.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/rslsql.cgi
• GenForum
  http://genforum.genealogy.com/
• Mailing lists (e-mail)
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html
4. It is helpful to visit a Family History Center first. At a center, try to use the printed materials, microfiche, and computer tools described previously. This can simplify your research and save time when you get to the Family History Library. For the nearest center, go to Find a Family History Center.
5. Use the online Family History Library Catalog and online Research Guidance to select the records you wish to view when you get to the library. The catalog describes the library's records. It is the key to research in the library and at Family History Centers. Use the catalog to find the book, CD-ROM, microfilm, and microfiche numbers you need to obtain records.
6. Use the online Family History Library Catalog to determine if the films you need are immediately available in the library. We are unable to store all microfilms at the library. Films listed in the catalog as "Vault" films may take up to three days to retrieve. Before your visit, you can request the microfilms you need by e-mail, telephone, or fax. Click here to e-mail us your request. To call in an order by telephone, call (801)240-7378 for films with records from the United States and Canada, (801)240-7379 for films with records from the British Isles, and (801)240-2334 for films from any other country. To fax in your order call (801)240-1924.
7. Most documents are written in the language of the country where they were made. You usually do not need to know the foreign language to use the records, but learning a few key terms is helpful. Many language word lists are available online at Research Helps.
8. Many records are handwritten, are in chronological rather than alphabetical order, and are not indexed. Allow plenty of time at the library when searching these types of records.
9. Check the library's holiday schedule to make sure it will be open.