FamilySearch Library And Centers Change Names

FamilySearch announced new names for its flagship Family History Library located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and all family history centers worldwide. The library will now be known as the FamilySearch Library, and all family history centers will now be FamilySearch centers. The name changes better align with local centers with FamilySearch’s expanding global brand.

FamilySearch is known for its popular FamilySearch.org website, personal online consultations, and state-of-the-art family research and discovery facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lesser known are its more than 5,000 local centers where visitors can receive individualized help and utilize web-enabled computers to access other premium family resources – all for free.

“FamilySearch is a global brand with free local FamilySearch center in most countries to help individuals make fun, personal discoveries about themselves and their ancestors. Center patrons can receive in-person help, and access millions of additional historical records online. The more you learn about yourself and the history of your family, the more your sense of who you are is deepened, and the more relationships and communities are strengthened,” said Steve Rockwood, CEO for FamilySearch International.

In addition to FamilySearch centers, there are over 1,700 FamilySearch affiliate libraries (public libraries, museums, universities and archives) that have privileges to limited-access FamilySearch databases. There will be no name change for a FamilySearch affiliate library.

People around the world are more interested in family, their familiar origins, and making family connections. FamilySearch is uniquely positioned to serve this demand through its growing network of FamilySearch centers, discovery experiences, help services, and vast, ever expanding online collections of genealogical records.

Deseret News reported that “FamilySearch” reflects the name of the family history tool – and familysearch.org – used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for years to help people trace their family lineage an to get to know their ancestors. 

FamilySearch was originally called The Genealogical Society of Utah and started in 1864, per FamilySearch. From that time, it’s grown from microfilm and paper records to a computer-based program – and many more paper records – found in the family history center locations today.

“We are now sharing knowledge and support virtually, making more and more books available online through the FamilySearch Digital Library,” Lynn Turner said when he became the FamilySearch Library director in 2022.

“We will also continue to leverage technology to enhance our in-person experience. As the field of genealogy shifts, we will adapt to help people discover, gather and connect with their ancestors.”

In 2023, the organization posted in Instagram that it plans to release 1 billion new records to help people reconnect with their families, among updates and new features on the platform.

Family history centers span the continents and exist in almost every country, per a map of the website. The organization also partners with Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, FindMyPast, and Geneanet.

Related Articles on FamilyTree.com:

New Idaho Falls FamilySearch Center Opens

Grand Island Public Library Is A FamilySearch Affiliate

FamilySearch Redesigned New Person Page

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