Family History Library/Main Floor

The Main Floor contains the Discovery Experiences at the Family History Library. There are 8 different experiences that a person can use to learn more about their own family as well as themselves. Take your time to learn more about them and start to tell your own story, because family history starts with you. Click on the map to learn more about the different experiences and other places on the floor.

Information Desk
Come here to get directions for the library. The volunteers at this desk will be able to help you know where to go in the library. Guests of the Family History Library are invited to go to the Church Office Building Cafeteria. You will need a card to get into the cafeteria, you can find that card here. The cafeteria is open for breakfast from 7-8:30 AM and lunch from 11:00 AM - 2:15 PM.

There is a courtesy phone available by the elevators. This phone can only make local calls.

Snack Room
This room is equipped with 6 vending machines. These machines contain food and drinks available for purchase. There are also 2 microwaves for your use. There are plastic utensils and napkins also available.

Across from the Snack Room are 24 free lockers for your personal items. All lockers must be emptied at the end of the day.

Main Floor Classroom A
This classroom can seat up to 60 people. There is a podium computer for you to use for your own presentation.

You can reserve this room for your own presentation or even for a group presentation from the Family History Library. To learn more about reserving this classroom go to Group Visit Options on the FamilySearch Wiki. All reservations are based upon availability.

This room is also used for classes taught by our research specialists and missionaries. To vie the class schedule or listen to past classes go to Family History Library Classes and Webinars on the FamilySearch Wiki.

Main Floor Classroom B & C
This classroom can seat up to 120 people. The room can be available either as a large conference room or divided into two classrooms (60 people). There is a podium computer for you to use for your own presentation.

You can reserve this room for your own presentation or even for a group presentation from the Family History Library. To learn more about reserving this classroom go to Group Visit Options on the FamilySearch Wiki. All reservations are based upon availability.

This room is also used for classes taught by our research specialists and missionaries. To vie the class schedule or listen to past classes go to Family History Library Classes and Webinars on the FamilySearch Wiki.

Main Floor Computer Lab
This computer lab has 30 computers programmed as research computers. They have access to the subscription websites and everything else available on the research computers on the floor. These computers connect to the one printer available on the floor. This is found by the Research Computers on the floor.

You can reserve this room for your own presentation or even for a group presentation from the Family History Library. To learn more about reserving this classroom go to Group Visit Options on the FamilySearch Wiki. All reservations are based upon availability.

This room is also used for classes taught by our research specialists and missionaries. To vie the class schedule or listen to past classes go to Family History Library Classes and Webinars on the FamilySearch Wiki.

There is also a vending machine in this room where you can by Print Cards ($2, $5, $10, or $20), 8GB Flashdrives ($6), and headphones ($1).

Kid's Area
Feel free to bring your children to the library. While your kids play you can sit at one of the 8 Research Computers or 3 Discovery Computers. The kids can play while you learn more about their family history.

Lost & Found
This is found at the Copy Center window. Each morning the previous days lost & found is collected and delivered to this window. If you lost an item earlier in the day please go to the Copy Center window on the floor you believe to have lost the item.

Research Computers
There are 38 research computers available on the Main Floor. 8 are located in the Kid's Area while 15 are located in the computer area. When the computers shut down all memory is wiped. Please make sure to save your work often. These computers are programmed with access to many subscription websites as well as different genealogy programs. Here is a list of some of the more popular websites and programs:
 * Ancestry.com
 * ArkivDigital
 * EmiWeb
 * FindMyPast
 * Fold3.com
 * JSTOR
 * RootsMagic
 * AncestralQuest
 * Legacy (Family History Program)
 * Personal Ancestral File (PAF)
 * and many more!

Scanners
There are many types of scanners available for your use. Here are the specifics to each available scanner:


 * 5 Flatbed Scanners (4 are on the tables and one in the Copy Center)
 * 5 Kodak Photo Scanners (4 are on the tables and one in the Copy Center)

iPad Desk
Come to this desk to pick up your iPad for a Discovery Experience. On one of our ____ iPads you will login with your FamilySearch Account or as a Guest. We recommend that you create a FamilySearch Family Tree before coming to the Discovery Experience as you will experience all of what the Discovery Experience can offer. Once you login in you will take your iPad and dock at one of the docking stations to start your experience.

All About Me
At this experience you will be able to learn more about you and things that occurred during your lifetime. At one of the 7 docking stations you can find out how many people in the United States share your name and surname. You can also learn the meaning of your name, the price of gas or a movie ticket, the most popular song, and more for the year you were born. You can also see this information for when you were 8, 16, and 18.

If you have entered people into your FamilySearch Family Tree, you can also see information regarding your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents born after 1900.

Where I Come From
At one of 10 docking stations, there are four things to experience here. If you have built a FamilySearch Family Tree, you can see where on the map your ancestors came from as well as a breakdown by country. If do or do not you have a FamilySearch Family Tree you will be able to see old pictures from around the United States and Europe. There is also information regarding why people emigrated to the United States.

My Famous Relative
This experience requires you have a FamilySearch Family Tree. On one of the 10 docking stations, you can find out which famous people you are related to. Is it a U.S. President? Maybe an inventor, or signer of the Declaration of Independence? Are you a descendant of a Mayflower passenger? You can find this out as well as many more. You are also able to see what other guests you are related to that are currently visiting the Discovery Experience.

Picture My Story
These 4 docking stations uses Kinect technology to take a picture of your face and place it in a costume. Using this motion technology can be a challenge but you will enjoy a fun experience trying to get your face just right on the costume.

Picture Our Story
At this docking station, you pick a place in the world or a historic photo to take a picture in that place. This experience takes a green screen and removes the background to replace with the picture of your choice. Once you have finished you can choose to receive this picture via text or email. You can also share your picture with others in the Discovery Experience.

My Time Machine
There are 4 docking stations for this experience. Three are located on the outside of the room and one is found inside. This experience allows you to look at a fan chart of your family. If you have a FamilySearch Family Tree it will populate on its own; if you do not have a FamilySearch Family Tree you can fill in the fan chart yourself. After selecting an individual on the fan chart you are able to see the events of their life and the different world and Church events that occurred during your ancestor's life.

Record My Story
There are 4 rooms that allow you to be interviewed. These interviews are video recorded and then you will receive an email with a link to the video. These rooms are designed for individual use.

Record Our Story
There are 2 rooms that allow you or a group to be interviewed. These interviews are video recorded and then an email will be sent to the person who docked. These rooms are designed for groups but can be used by individuals.