Family History Library Computer Resources

Family History Library Computer Resources

Public computers
The Family History Library has over 500 public guest computers available. Guest computers are located on each floor. Each guest computer is equipped with high speed Internet access, and a USB port accessible from the front of the machine. For more information on USB drives, go to Step-by-Step Using a USB and U3 Flash key.

Free wireless access
Personal laptops are welcome at the Family History Library. Electrical power outlets are located at each microfilm reader and at many guest tables. Free wireless Internet is available. All of the subscription websites (see below) are accessible through this wireless network as though you are on one of the guest computers, as long as you are in the Library.

FamilySearch.org
FamilySearch is the umbrella organization and set of free online databases associated with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.


 * Family Tree. A worldwide compiled tree you can edit including names, relationships, birth, marriage, death data, with photos and source documentation. A good place to begin research, but remember to verify the information.
 * Memories. Search for or contribute photographs, documents, stories or audio recordings linked to Family Tree.
 * Search. Online searches of a variety of sources:
 * Records. Billions of names across hundreds of our collections of worldwide primary records of births, marriages, deaths, census, church, cemetery, wills, military, court, naturalization, voting, land, passenger lists, obituaries, compiled genealogies, and many others.
 * Images. Contains the newest images that may not be available through Historical Records and the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * Genealogies. Large static files of lineage-linked family history data from Ancestral File, and the Pedigree Resource File.
 * Catalog. Describes the genealogical holdings (3 million microfilms, and 310,000 books) of the Family History Library and a few other repositories. Also, now part of WorldCat online catalog.
 * Books. FamilySearch Digital Library has over 150,000 digitized online family histories including county and local histories, genealogy magazines, how-to books, gazetteers, and medieval histories, and pedigrees.
 * Wiki. An encyclopedia of how-to-research ancestors often with great hints about local sources.
 * Indexing. Volunteer indexing makes databases available worldwide on the Internet. Over 320,000 contributors added over 1.1 billion new names in 2014. Come learn how you can contribute, too.

Family history software access
Each Family History Library guest computer has access to a variety of family history software programs. Among these include: Ancestral Quest, Legacy Family Trees, Roots Magic and similar notekeeping programs. One such program, Family Tree Maker, is only available on the computers that are marked for CD-ROM use only.

Compact disc databases
Hundreds of compact disc databases are available either on the network of our guest computers, or for check out as compact discs. These databases are all described in the FamilySearch Catalog. Those available on guest computers will have a "click here" note in their catalog entry. Those on compact disc only must be obtained at the appropriate Access Services window and used on specially designated computers on each floor.

Subscription websites
The Family History Library subscribes to the following online databases.
 * Current list of databases