Family History Library Donations

Information on donating items to the Family History Library and Church History Library (Church historical archives)

Family History Library
The Family History Library and FamilySearch appreciate gifts, which make up a large part of its collections.

Considerations Before Donating

 * 1) Decisions about which donations are accepted by the Family History Library and FamilySearch lie solely with the Library administration, collections staff, and the library's genealogists. Not every donation will be accepted.
 * 2) If materials are donated to the Library, the Library becomes the owner of the material and, as such, reserves the right to determine its retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations related to its use, maintenance, or disposal.
 * 3) FamilySearch looks for genealogical records and family histories so we can preserve and share them on FamilySearch.org. With the Family History Scanning Project, family histories donated to the Family History Library are digitized and made available via a link in the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * 4) Material related to LDS Church History or members of the LDS Church (personal journals, missionary journals, biographies, autobiographies) will be sent to the Church History Library for their collection.

Items accepted by FamilySearch
FamilySearch ONLY accepts materials that:
 * 1) Are typed with a title page, table of contents, pagination, and index.
 * 2) Have an abstract, narrative, or explanation of the research process and how the sources found connect to each other.
 * 3) Add new information to the collection (duplicate materials are not accepted).
 * 4) Do not violate current privacy and copyright laws. U.S. Copyright law states that any written work created in any format after 1978 is considered copyright protected, even when not indicated.
 * 5) DO NOT MENTION LIVING PEOPLE.

Materials FamilySearch will accept: Note: Family genealogies must have all binders, sheet protectors, and comb bindings removed. They can be clipped together with binder clips and/or rubber bands.
 * Family histories (complied in a "ready to be published" format)
 * Local and county histories
 * Autobiographies and biographies containing genealogical material for multiple generations
 * Indexes to records in book format

Items NOT accepted by FamilySearch

 * Artifacts or souvenirs
 * Autobiographies and biographies without genealogical material for multiple generations
 * Books of Remembrance
 * Collections that are cumbersome, unindexed, or otherwise inaccessible to patrons
 * Correspondence (letters and emails)
 * GEDCOM files or other computer programs used to keep track of genealogy
 * Family Bibles
 * Fiction
 * Historical Periodicals
 * Memorabilia
 * Newspapers and newspaper clippings
 * Obituaries
 * Original Source Documents (birth, marriage, death certificates; probates, wills, land deeds, etc)
 * Pedigrees, descendancies, and family group charts
 * Personal and family video and audio clips
 * Personal journals that mention living individuals or without genealogy
 * Photo albums, loose photographs, or scrapbooks (anything in a 3-ring binder with sheet protectors)
 * Travelogues
 * Yearbooks

Process for Donating to the Family History Library

 * 1) Carefully review the Gifts, Donations, and Loans to FamilySearch before contacting the library about your donation. This list will detail the types of items the Family History Library will and will not accept into our collection.
 * 2) When you have determined what items you would like to send, please contact the Family History Library Donation Center at email: [mailto:books@familysearch.org books@familysearch.org] or by calling (801)240-1855.
 * 3) The appropriate form(s) must be completed and sent with the donation. See the links to the forms at the bottom of the page.
 * 4) Donations to the library can be made in three ways:
 * By email at [mailto:books@familysearch.org books@familysearch.org] via a link, PDF file or Dropbox
 * If you live in Utah or are planning a visit you can deliver the material directly to the library
 * By mail (book, flash drive, or CD) to the Family History Library (address located at the bottom of the page).

Additional Information
The Family History Library does not organize collections or publish books for people. If you have compiled material that you want published, please find a publisher of your own choosing, whether self-published or by a commercial company.

The Family History Library does not accept GEDCOM, PAF, Family Tree Maker or other computer programs used to compile genealogy. To submit these files to FamilySearch please click here. Follow the instructions to put the information in your files into FamilySearch.

The Family History Library is not an archives. The focus is digital preservation.

The Family History Library does not accept donations of websites, databases, or other similar sources of genealogical information. If you have created such a resource click here to submit the information as content for the FamilySearch Wiki.

If you are wanting to sell a family history or genealogical publication, please send an official offer to [mailto:fhl-acq@familysearch.org fhl-acq@familysearch.org].

Suggestions for Donations not Accepted

 * Upload the material to the computer and attach the items as "Sources" or "Memories" within FamilySearch
 * Find a family member or friend to help that has the capability
 * Take your items to a local Family History Center and have them help put the documents into FamilySearch
 * Contact your local LDS ward or stake and offer the project as an opportunity for the Young Men/Young Women to earn an Eagle Scout or Young Women Recognition award

Information and Forms
Gifts, Donations, and Loans to FamilySearch

The [[Media:FORM-General-Donation.pdf|General Donation form]] is required for all donations to the library.

The [[Media:Permission_to_Duplicate_Writable_Form_2015.pdf|Permission to Duplicate form]] is optional and can only be signed by the copyright owner (author, publisher or authorized representative of the copyright owner). This form allows digitized publications to be viewed in the FamilySearch Catalog regardless of location. Without, the link to the digital version publications will only work in the Family History Library and family history centers.

Contact Information
Email: [mailto:books@familysearch.org books@familysearch.org] Phone: (801)240-1855 Mailing Address: Family History Library - Donations 35 N. West Temple St. Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Church History Library
The Church History Library welcomes gifts and donations of many types. Unfortunately, they are unable to accept all donations. For donations of books, manuscripts, artwork, photographs, or other articles relating to the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or its members, visit this website and fill out the form. A Church history representative will contact you if they determine that your item fits within the scope of their collections.

Other items
For information on how to donate money, property, or equipment, visit the LDS Foundation website.