FamilySearch News: New FamilySearch Library in Riverton Opens

The following is from FamilySearch.

June 17, 2010

New FamilySearch Library in Riverton Opens to the Public

SALT LAKE CITY — Whether for seasoned researchers with years of experience, or curious family history newcomers with simple questions about their ancestors, a new FamilySearch Library in Riverton, Utah, is making it easier and more convenient for south valley residents to look into the branches of their family tree. The new Riverton FamilySearch Library is a state-of-the-art family history research center equipped with a treasure trove of tools and resources.

The Library replaces 24 smaller family history centers that had been operating in Latter-day Saint stake centers (meetinghouses) in the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley until earlier this year. Consolidating the smaller centers into a larger facility will enhance the experience of patrons significantly. In the new library, visitors will enjoy extended hours, broader research assistance and access to significantly more genealogical resources.

“Once fully stocked, the new Library will be home to 50,000 microfilms of most interest to researchers in the area,” said Sharon Hintze, acting director, Riverton FamilySearch Library.  “If we don’t have a specific film, a patron order can be delivered the very next day.”

When the Library opens officially on Monday, 21 June, 2010, its resources will be available free to the public (a small fee may be incurred for computer printing or photo copies). Patrons are invited to participate in free training and research classes. In fact, the library is equipped with a state-of-the-art computer training lab and four multi-purpose training rooms.

The Library staff is anxious to assist patrons. “Bring in your tough family history questions and dead ends,” said Hintze. “Our research staff is ready to help. We love the excitement patrons experience when they make a discovery or find something unexpected.”

The public is invited to an open house, 17–19 June 2010, at the new Library. Open house activities will include ongoing orientations, a video tour of the Granite Mountain Records Vault, opportunities to explore FamilySearch’s newest products and services, and hands-on demonstrations of the process and technologies used to digitally preserve and publish historic records online. There will also be fun family history–related activities for children 8 years of age and older.

The library is located on the main floor of the Church-owned Riverton Office Building at 3740 West Market Center Drive (13400 S. Bangerter Highway). 

Open House Dates and Times

Thursday, 17 June 2010          1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday, 18 June 2010              1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, 19 June 2010          10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Quick Facts about the Riverton FamilySearch Library

·         The library is open to the public. There is no admission fee and all resources are available at no charge (a small fee is required for computer printing, photo copies, and microfilm orders).

·         The library offers 127 patron computer work stations with free Web and premium subscriptions access.

·         Patrons will benefit from 20 microfilm and fiche readers. Some of the readers are equipped to capture and convert film images to digital files that can be saved to a flash drive allowing patrons to document their family history sources electronically.

·         Once fully inventoried, the library will be the permanent home of 50,000 high demand microfilms.

·         Popular training and research classes will be offered for free on a daily/weekly basis.  In fact, the library is equipped with a state-of- the-art computer training lab and 4 multi-purpose training rooms. See the schedule online at http://familysearch.org/fhc/riverton for a complete list.

·         The library is staffed with skilled and experienced researchers offering free assistance to patrons.

·         Youth and community groups are welcome to tour the library or schedule a time to work together in a group setting.

·         Adjacent to the library is a cafeteria available to library patrons offering lunch service only.

·         Following the open house, the library’s regular hours of operation are Monday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays.