| FamilySearch Library | |
|---|---|
 Entrance to the Library | |
 | |
| 40°46′13.44″N111°53′39.3108″W / 40.7704000°N 111.894253000°W /40.7704000; -111.894253000 | |
| Location | Salt Lake City,Utah, United States |
| Type | Genealogy Library |
| Established | 1894 |
| Branch of | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Branches | 6,300+ (2024) FamilySearch Center[1] |
| Collection | |
| Size | 1.3 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 190,000 microfiche; 340,000 books, serials, and other formats; and 125,500 periodicals[2] |
| Other information | |
| Director | Lynn Turner |
| Website | FamilySearch Library |
TheFamilySearch Library (FSL), formerly theFamily History Library, is agenealogical research facility indowntown Salt Lake City. The library is open to the public free of charge and is operated byFamilySearch, the genealogical arm ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The origins of the FSL can be traced to the founding of theGenealogical Society of Utah (GSU) in 1894. Through time the FSL has changed locations within Salt Lake City as follows:
The current building, just west ofTemple Square was opened on October 23, 1985, and cost $8.2 million.[4]
In 1938, the GSU began tomicrofilm records which contained genealogical data from around the world, and today this microfilm makes up much of the library's collection. Today the GSU is more commonly known as FamilySearch, and in September 2021, completed digitizing many of its microfilm collections to be shared online. In 2017, the FHL opened a new center for interactive discovery experiences.[5]
On January 10, 2023, the LDS Church announced a name change for the library. The former Family History Library would be known as the FamilySearch Library and family history centers would be known asFamilySearch Centers (FSC).[6]
On April 15, 1999, 70-year-old Sergei Babarin entered the library's lobby and began shooting. A security officer and one female patron were killed while several others were injured. One hour and 45 minutes[7] after the shooting began, Salt Lake police shot and fatally wounded Babarin in an exchange of gunfire. Babarin's family indicated he had a history of schizophrenia, a claim not corroborated by the Valley Community Mental Health Clinic.[8] This occurred only four months after a separate shooting incident a block away at theTriad Center.[8]
FamilySearch's main purpose is to connect generations of family—past, present, and future—all over the world. The LDS Church believes that families,sealed together throughsaving ordinances in itstemples, are eternal. Family members who die without the opportunity to perform these ordinances for themselves are able to receive them via proxy, which motivates the church's emphasis on family history work.[9]
The FSL is located inSalt Lake City, Utah. It is the largest genealogical library in the world.[10] The library holds genealogical records for over 100 countries, territories, and possessions. Its collections include over 1.3 million rolls of microfilmed records onsite and access the total collection of more than 2.4 million rolls ofmicrofilmed genealogical records; 190,000microfiche; 340,000 books,serials, and other formats; 125,000periodicals; 3,725 electronic resources including subscriptions to the major genealogical websites.[11]
The FSL offers research assistance to help patrons trace their own family history. Professional genealogists and volunteers offer assistance in about 30 languages, which includes reading and translating genealogically relevant documents. The FSL also offers free one-on-one consultations on difficult research problems. Additionally, there are classes on genealogical research topics free to the public[12] and classes available online.[13]
Branches of the FSL are FamilySearch Centers. While there are over 6,300 FSCs operating in more than 149 countries there are only about 17 majorregional branch library class facilities. The others are usually located inward, branch, andstake facilities of the LDS Church with at least one or more genealogical computers.[14]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
