2010 NGS Family History Conference

Free Activities & Events

LDS Conference Center & Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Week at a Glance

  1. Librarians Day
  2. Family History Consultant Fireside
  3. Genealogy Exhibitor Hall
  1. Tuesday, 27 AprLibrarians Day
  2. Wednesday, 28 AprFamilySearch Center
    Open House
  3. Wednesday, 28 AprFamily History Library Open House
  4. Thursday, 29 Apr"A Celebration of Family History" Concert

Tuesday, 27 April


Librarians Day

8:45am–4:00pm Joseph Smith Building Empire Room, 15 East South Temple, Salt Lake City
All librarians who work with family history patrons will benefit from this special pre-conference meeting. Come enjoy an enriching day of classes and behind-the-scenes tours of the Family History Library and the new LDS Church History Library.
9:00–10:00am How the Library of Congress Can Help You With Your Family History Patrons
James P. Sweany, head of the Local History & Genealogy Reading Room at the Library of Congress.
The world’s largest library holds more than 60,000 genealogies and 100,000 local histories plus rich collections of manuscripts, microfilms, newspapers, photographs, maps, and other material that should not be overlooked. Focus will be on helping librarians who serve family history researchers utilize the services and the print and digital collections of the Library of Congress.
10:15–11:15am Funding Projects Large and Small
Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CG, CGL, is the executive director at the Plymouth Historical Museum, Plymouth, Michigan.
A tough economy requires creative thinking in order to find funding for projects, regardless of size. This lecture explores several ways to capture funds, from an "adoption" campaign, to sponsorship, to applying for grants. Successful examples will highlight the lecture. Don't give up! Money is available if sought from the right people in the right way.
11:15am–1:00pm Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Collection Care for Your Library
Chris McAfee works for BYU and the LDS Church History Department conserving and preserving. M. Scott Simkins is the head conservator at the Family History Library.
Two conservators will share methods for storing, mending, and preserving your library materials.
2:15–4:00pm

Behind the Scenes tours of the Family History Library and the new LDS Church History Library.
At the Church History Library visit with professionals in the preservation image center, conservation lab, and public services area. Building construction details, reference staffing, and other service issues will be discussed as you learn more about this new facility that opened in June 2009.

At the Family History Library see unique genealogical assets, learn what services are offered and how to bring our resources to your library.

From 4–6 PM socialize with library professionals from both facilities during an Open House at the Church History Library that will include demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies used in preserving and restoring archival materials.

Wednesday, 28 April


Open Houses

5:30–7:30pm FamilySearch Center and Church History Library
FamilySearch Open House
Meet the FamilySearch team at a special open house held in the FamilySearch Center of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Join us for a rare opportunity to visit with some of the experts behind FamilySearch’s products and services and share your feedback. Product managers, engineers, designers, researchers, and service representatives will be on hand to demonstrate what’s new and discuss what’s in progress. Share your knowledge of records that need to be imaged before they disappear, and learn the Collection Management strategy for your geographic area of interest. While there, explore the newly remodeled FamilySearch Center. Learn more about the history of records and take your photo at the new Ellis Island Port of Entry exhibit.
LDS Church History Library Open House (NGS Badge Required)
Visit the new LDS Church History Library! Opened in June 2009, this is a state-of–the-art archival library. If you have Mormon pioneer ancestors, chances are you can find stories about them here. The collection includes rare manuscripts, books, LDS Church records, photographs, oral histories, maps, and more. See fascinating demonstrations of state-of-the-art conservation methods for photographs, sound recordings, and books.

Thursday, 29 April


A Celebration of Family History

7:00pm

Join FamilySearch for a celebration of the connections that tie families together through the generations. This event will feature the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There will also be a multi-media presentation and a nationally prominent speaker who will be announced shortly.

Reserved tickets for this event are included with NGS registration. Free tickets will be available to the public beginning March 15 on www.lds.org/events.