FamilySearch Centres

FamilySearch Centre (Center) is the umbrella term used for all of the centre locations. However most are still individually called Family History Centres (Centers)

FamilySearch Centres are local branches of the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City and can be found worldwide. Access to most of the microfilms and microfiche in the Family History Library are available at these centres. However, ordering of microfilms will cease from September 2017. You do not have to be a member of the LDS to use a centre or their resources. Read the FamilySearch Wiki article Introduction to LDS Family History Centers for more details.

Find a Family History Center. Enter your location details. This link is also available from the FamilySearch Home Page, scroll down to the bottom, but at times the Search may not operate. If so, leave for a while and try later, or use the "Get Help" facility, see the end of this paragraph. At least some of the Centres do not provide opening times. In most centres the phone is only connected during opening times, so it may be difficult to actually make contact and find out when the Centre is open. In addition, the Centres usually do not have provision for mail enquiries. If necessary clarify with the Library in Salt Lake City. To contact a Librarian, from the Home Page of the Family Search website select "Get Help" (top right hand corner). There is also some information in the FamilySearch Wiki Category :Family History Centers, but not for all Centres.

Always confirm opening times prior to a visit, as the website details, even if available, may not be up to date.

Photocopy Service from Salt Lake City has now ceased

The previous photocopy service ceased 5 December 2014.

Ordering microfilms

The Family Search Wiki article Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche from a Family History Center explains the procedure. You can order a microfilm for two lengths of time: Short-term loan - With this loan, films must be returned within 90 days. A 60-day renewal option is available after your short-term loan expires. Extended loan - The film will remain at the FHC indefinitely. The Family Search Wiki article Introduction to LDS Family History Centers provides more information, including the websites which can be accessed at no cost such as Ancestry and FindMyPast.

When you are advised by the FamilySearch centre that your film has arrived, it may be advisable to book a film reader, (or microfiche reader, if applicable), especially at busy Centres.

Update: The microfilm ordering service will cease from September 2017. The last day for ordering microfilms is 31 August 2107.

Ordering microfilms online

Currently applies to residents of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, and most other parts of the world.

Residents of these countries must order their films on-line by first opening an account and then signing in to order, using the link provided in Ordering Microfilm previously quoted. This requires the use of your Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card. You will need to nominate a centre to which the films will be sent. A different centre can be nominated for different orders; but once ordered films cannot be transferred from one centre to another. Some centres have better facilities than others, so check opening hours and film reading facilities first. For enquiries, phone when the FHC is open, as there are usually no facilities for phone messages or mail enquiries. If you don't have a FamilySearch Centre near you, you might be able to 'find a friend' who will agree to look at your film if delivered to their nearest centre.

First check what options are available to take a copy of the records you require. Photocopies are usually available.

Viewing 'Protected' access online books and databases

Some online books and databases provided by the Family History Library have a 'Protected' access status. This means that they can only be viewed on home computers by LDS Church members. However, members of the public can view these online books and databases at a FamilySearch Centre on a Family History Library computer. Contact your FamilySearch Centre prior to visiting to advise your requirements and to ensure the volunteer librarians are aware of this facility, and book a suitable computer. Examples of books are Christian cemeteries and memorials in Malacca, Christian cemeteries of Penang and Perak and Bencoolen : the Christian Cemetery and the Fort Marlborough Monuments.

London, England

• London FamilySearch Centre currently located at the National Archives, Kew.
  • location and hours
• London Family History Centre FamilySearch Wiki

Update Important News 3 March 2017 (This web page is no longer available)
Microfilm Collection
The permanent microfilm collection now at Kew has been given to the Society of Genealogists. See www.sog.org.uk for address and opening times. For those who are not members, there is a daily or hourly charge for using the Society’s resources.

Update 2: 12 April 2017: The films will be available to view at the National Archives until 31 May and should be available for consultation at the Society of Genealogists Library from 26 June 2017.

Australia

NSW

For those in or near Sydney, NSW, Australia it is recommended that you attend the LDS Family History Centre at North Parramatta. This Centre holds many India related films of records from the British Library permanently onsite, including all the baptism, marriage and burial indexes, indexes relating to wills, Registers of European Soldiers Services to 1860 and some of the IOR O series records. This will save you a lot of time, as you do not need to order in these films. Currently (November 2009) Thursdays and Saturdays usually have librarians on duty who have a particular interest in India. Details current at November 2009:

Address: 169 Pennant Street

North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

(Situated near James Ruse Drive, Parramatta side, and opposite the intersection with Isabella Street))

The Centre is situated towards the rear of the LDS chapel, left hand side, near the parking area. The Centre has its own entrance, so do not try to enter through the LDS chapel.

Public transport: 545 bus from Parramatta station to Chatswood station.

Phone: (02)9683 5849

Opening hours given on the website, (current at January 2016): 10.30am- 2.30pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and 2nd and 3rd Saturdays. Closed School Holidays and Public Holidays.

Phone prior to your visit, when the Centre is open, and book a film reader. Confirm opening times.
No phone messages or mail enquiries. (The phone is disconnected outside of opening hours)

For details currently available on the website, type Parramatta in the Search and click on the icon on the map. Always confirm opening times by telephone prior to a visit, as the website details may not be up to date.

Victoria

Melbourne.

• AIGS (Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies) in Melbourne has a large collection of India material including some permanent LDS microfilms. GSV (Genealogy Society of Victoria) also has some microfilms.
• The LDS FHC at Blackburn closed 1 October 2010 . The Centre's collection of India Office Lists 1886-1940 were transferred to the Heidelberg Family History Centre.

Queensland

The Rockhampton Family History Centre in Queensland, Australia has a set of indexes for baptism, marriage and burial in the three presidencies.