Visit to Riverton FamilySearch Library Open House

I took the opportunity today to visit the open house at the new Riverton FamilySearch Library and was truly impressed with the new state-of-the-art facility! In an effort to cut some costs and enhance the genealogy research and training processes the Church is moving towards more "regional type" of centers.

Here's your own private tour just in case you don't have the chance to check it out. Here is the front door to the center.

Front desk:

They first took us to a conference room to view one of the videos that was presented at the NGS conference in April. See here for the videos. Click on the tab "videos". The chart below is a layout of the first floor of the building where the FS library is located. The green area in the lower right is the library. The blue area in the upper left is the cafeteria that serves the entire building. It is open daily from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. If you bring your own food or access the vending machines there are microwaves available.

Here are the facilities in the cafeteria. There are also numerous restaurants and fast food outlets in walking distance of the library.

 

 

The following charts were displayed around the building for explanation of the purpose and responsibility of FamilySearch.

The library has tools, crafts, and activities for you to teach children about family history.

Here are some pictures from inside the library. Videos and announcements are projected on the walls of the library.

Rows of microfilm files will house many of the most requested and most used films for the U.S., and all of the British films. Other films can be ordered for a small fee (less than the regular FHCs) and be available for your use, usually within 24 hours.

Plenty of microfilm readers (above) and microfilm scanners (below).

127 computers for research.

Rooms available for staff training and support for patrons.

Saturday classes and seminars and Thursday evening research workshops are made available for patrons in state-of-art training rooms.

Resources will include 50,000 microfilms on site. Check the catalog for details which is available at familysearch.org/fhc/riverton .

Computer databases and software available free for patron use include:

British Isles: Times Digital Archives (U.K.); Oxford English Dictionary; British Library 19th Century Newspapers; FindMyPast; The Genealogist; and BritishOrigins.


International:  Ancestry.com full version; World Vital Records; and Heritage Quest.

Sweden:  Genline.com (Swedish microfilm records) and SVAR (National Archives of Sweden)

United States: Godfrey Memorial Library (contains NewspaperArchives.com); NewEnglandAncestors.org; U.S. 19th Century Newspapers; U.S. Civil War Research Database; U.S. Civil War Letters and Diaries; Images of the American Civil War; and Footnote.com.

LDS Software:  Pedigree Resource Files CDs; FamilySearch DOS

Family History Software:  Personal Ancestral File (PAF); Family Insight; RootsMagic; Ancestral Quest; Legacy; and Family Tree Maker.


The first of the Saturday training seminars will be held July 17th from 9 am to noon. The Thursday evening research classes begin next Thursday evening. A list of upcoming events and classes are located here.


The OPEN HOUSE will continue for the next two days. Friday 1-8 pm and Saturday 10-5 pm.

The library is located at 3740 West Market Center Drive
Riverton, Utah 84065
801-240-9601
It is just in the NE corner area of 13400 South and Bangerter Hwy.