Family History Library

Catalog

By Veronica Stearmer

1 - Before you start searching the FHLC

If you are just starting to gather your family history, contact family members who may be working on the same family history. Try to get a ged.com copy of their PAF files, if possible.

2 - Highly Recommended Next Step

After you have identified what you know and what unanswered questions you have –

Decide what you want to learn.

It is a good idea to prepare a Research Log to record the results of your research.

3 - Research Logs

Help you remember what you have researched in the past and prevent you from ordering a document that you have already looked at.

Help you remember what you found or didn’t find from the record you researched.

Have a place to record the document title, and page numbers.

With this log a source can quickly be found again by you or someone else, even if many years have gone by since you did the research!

4 - The Family History Library Catalog –

A Beginner’s Guide

A handout of typed notes taken from the 17 minute video for future reference when you use the Family History Library Catalog.

5 - Using the Family History Library Catalog

Accessing the catalog can be done in two different ways.

At www.familysearch.org or on a CD purchased from the Church’s Distribution Center.

6 - Ordering a Document

Family History Centers (FHC) are set up to make the holdings of the Family History Library (FHC) in Salt Lake City available world-wide.

The order forms are sequential so they shouldn’t be used until ordering.

On the Research Log you should have filled out all the information you will need to order a document.

The short term loan list is posted; If you are ordering something already on order, it will be caught before the order is processed.

Before placing an order, check the cataloged FHC’s holdings found in the Vernal FHC Library Catalog on line @ http//vernalfhc.org.

7 - Review Eight Different Types of Searches

Place Search:

Search all levels of jurisdiction: parish or city, county, state and country. Each has different records because boundaries change and people move. It is not necessary to type the word “city” or “county” in your search terms. Be sure to click on the tabs at the top of the screen for “Related Places” and “Place Details.”

8 - Cont. Review…

Surname Search

The surname you enter may be in the title or listed as a major family in a book. Books are housed in the FHL.

Remember also to search for alternative spellings of the name.

9 - Cont. Review…

Keyword Search

You can enter several terms, just leave a single space between words. You need to type an “asterisk” at the end of the search term if you want to find keywords that end differently than your search term. For example: “Worcester*church records” with an asterisk will give you records that are different from “Worcester church records” without the asterisk.

10 - Cont. Review…

Title Search

This is similar to Keyword Search. You don’t need to know the exact title if you know a word or words that are part of the title.

Books can not be checked out of the Family History Library or the Family History Center.

11 - Cont. Review…

Microfilm/Microfiche Search:

This finds a description of the contents on a microfilm/microfiche when the number is already known. Films may contain more than one item, so be sure to note the item number in order to locate that item on the film.

12 - Cont. Review…

Author Search:

An author can be one person or several people, a society, a church or a government agency.

13 - Cont. Review…

Subject Search:

A subject can be a language, occupation, ethnic group, religion, historical event or even a surname. If you get too many “hits” add more terms to the search.

14 - Conclusion of Review

Call Number Search:

Call numbers and microfilm/microfiche numbers are not interchangeable. You must enter the number exactly as listed, using case-sensitive letters.

Call numbers are for books.

Books and other hard-copy materials do not circulate. However, if the book has been microfilmed, you can order it at your Family History Center.

You can request photocopies of Census Records, books, Microfilm, or Microfiche. (10/02 form 31768).

15 - Tips:

You will only get ordinance information if you register as a member of the Church on www.familysearch.org

Do not use abbreviations for searches. For example, use “United States” not USA

You do not have to type in capital letters, except for the call numbers of books, because catalog entries are not case-sensitive.

You can use “truncation” which allows you to type as much of a word as you know is correct, and leave off the ending when you are not sure how it ends. For example, if you type in “John,” it will give you “son, stone, sen, ssen,” etc. as endings. Truncation cannot be used in a Keyword or Film/fiche Search.

If you are not sure how a word is spelled, you can use a “wild card” to replace part of the word. Type “*” to replace more than one letter, or “l” to replace a single letter.

16 - Vernal Family History Staff

Wishes you Success in Your Research!