Introduction to LDS Family History Centers: Accessing Family History Library Materials in Your Area

An introduction to family history center locations, available records, Internet access, microfilm ordering, and service fees.

Although millions of records are available on the Internet at www.familysearch.org, the vast majority are not digitzed. A much larger collection of records is available trhough the Family History Library's microfilms, microfiche, books, and CDs. If you are not able to visit the at the Family History Library (FHL) in person, you can make use of many of these resources through a local Family History Center (FHC).

Housed in LDS chapels around the world, FHCs provide patrons access to microfilm and microfiche on a loan basis at a minimal cost. (The FHL's book and CD collections does not circulate.) FHCs also feature free access to many subscription web sites, including Footnote.com, WorldVitalRecords.com, and 19th Century British Newspapers.

Family history centers are staffed by volunteers who can show you how to search for records of your family. There are several ways to find the nearest FHC:


 * 1) Telephone us at 1-866-406-1830 (United States only).
 * 2) Check your local phone directory under "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" for a family history center.
 * 3) Go to www.familysearch.org and enter your state (or country, if you are outside the United States) in the "Find a Family History Center" search field.
 * 1) Go to www.familysearch.org and enter your state (or country, if you are outside the United States) in the "Find a Family History Center" search field.

Each center has unique hours of operation, so be sure to telephone your local center for their scheduled hours before you visit.

A catalog that lists the Family History Library's records is available at each Family History Center and on our Web site at Family History Library. If you find a description of a microfilm or microfiche you would like to see, you can request a copy of it for a fee. The center staff will place the order and the copy will be mailed to the family history center of your choice, where it will remain for a short time for you to use. Some centers also have machines you can use to print a photocopy from a microfilm or fiche. Ask the staff at the center about current fees and ordering procedures.

There is no charge to use a FHC, its computers, or the Internet. Scanners and copiers are available in some FHCs. Costs for other services vary, but the following costs pertain to centers in the United States as of March 2009:


 * Microfilm ordering in the United States: $5.50 per film.
 * Book photocopies: Usually $0.05 per page
 * Microfilm/fiche copies: $0.25 per paper copy
 * Microfilm/fiche scan to your own disk or USB drive: free
 * Some FHCs have writable/rewritable CDs they can sell to patrons wishing to scan microform images to CD. Prices vary.

Your success in finding family records at a family history center will depend entirely upon how much information you bring with you. To increase your chance of success, interview family members and gather records at home before you visit the center.