The Steele Memorial Library is excited to announce that we are now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. The new designation means library patrons will have greater and more convenient access to the wealth of genealogical resources available through FamilySearch.
Family Search is the world’s largest repository of free genealogical records and manages the famous Family History library in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has amassed billions of birth, marriage, death, census, land and court records of genealogical significance from over 130 countries.
FamilySearch is extending access to its collections by circulating microfilms of the historic records though select public libraries. The Steele Memorial Library is now one of these libraries. It is a priceless treasure for local residents interested in discovering their family tree.
“Less than 5% of the world’s genealogical records are available online, and most family history researchers cannot afford to travel to an archive nationally or worldwide to find historic records they are seeking,” said Paul Nauta, FamilySearch Public Affairs manager. “If FamilySearch has filmed the records they need, then as far as they will need to travel to view them is the Steele Memorial Library.”
FamilySearch has over 200 camera teams filming historic records in 45 countries on any given day. These records are then circulated to public patrons through FamilySearch centers worldwide, like the Steele Memorial Library. For example, FamilySearch has filmed over 60% of the Civil Registration (birth, marriage and death records) of Italy. If you have Italian ancestry, chances are you will be able to extend your Italian research by conveniently using the FamilySearch films through the Steele Memorial Library.
There is a nominal fee of $7.50 to order a microfilm. Once the film arrives, patrons use the microfilm readers at the Steele Memorial Library to peruse it. The library staff can help patrons see what films are available, lead them through the process of placing orders, and answer research questions. Patrons can also search the Family History Library catalog online at FamilySearch.org to see what records Family Search has available to order through the library.
Patrons must have their own, free, FamilySearch account to place a microfilm order. Following please find two simple tutorials to introduce the process of searching, finding, and ordering microfilm through the Family History Library. Librarians at the Steele Memorial Library are on hand to assist you with any questions you may have.
No Sound Tutorial: http://www.screencast.com/t/UcC07hPRlLN
Tutorial with Sound: http://www.screencast.com/t/y4aM1Vln3
We are very excited about this new partnership with FamilySearch. We hope you find it valuable to your research needs.
All the Best,
Maggie Young
Genealogy Librarian