>> From cwns9.INS.CWRU.Edu!ak385 Thu Feb 27 01:10:16 1992 NEWS OF THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY ------------------------------------------------------- 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 ------------------------------------------------------- Vol. 3, No. 3 Fall 1991 FROM THE DIRECTOR: In this edition of the News, we announce the most significant expansion of Family History Library services since the new building opened six years ago. We also answer some Ancestral File (TM) questions and share reasons why you should consider forming a FamilySearch (R) user group. --David M. Mayfield LIBRARY CHANGES: After six years, the Family History Library has become crowded. Nowhere is this more evident than at the microfilm readers, which are in great demand much of the day. We're happy to announce that through some innovative realignment of existing facilities, we will be able to expand microfilm reading stations by as many as 150 on the second floor of the library by the end of 1991. We are doing this by combining the US/Canada Reference Unit on the second floor with the General and LDS Reference Unit (on the main floor). Combining the collections will allow us to place all books on the main floor and all microfilms on the second floor. This change will allow us to install the additional microfilm readers on the second floor. Moving books, installing new microfilm readers, and upgrading electrical connections will take time and will require closing the library. Accordingly, the library will close at 5:00 pm Thursday, 19 Dec. and re-open Thursday morning, 26 Dec. Those planning to visit the library in December should plan accordingly. ANCESTRAL FILE UPDATE: The following items are responses to some of the most common Ancestral File questions: SOURCES - We encourage but do not require you to include sources or footnotes when you send us genealogical information. We are planning to include source citations in future releases of Ancestral File. ACCURACY - The latest edition of Ancestral File allows you to make corrections to information in the file. This may be done while you use the file, and requires you to give your name, address, and the source of your data. This process records information on a diskette that you send to the Ancestral File Operations Unit. Additional details are in Ancestral File screen messages, or in "Correcting Information in Ancestral File." ACCESS - To help reduce the need for more computers, we are distributing more systems. As of September 1991, almost 1,400 systems have been sent to over 900 Family History Centers in the United States and Canada. In Salt Lake City, construction of the FamilySearch Center at the former Hotel Utah is on schedule for its 1993 opening. The center will feature 150 FamilySearch stations as well as compiled family histories on microfilm. The aim of the new center will be to provide patrons with the best sources for reviewing what has already been compiled on their family lines and to help them easily and quickly find that information. DESCENDANCY CHARTS - You can now view up to five generations of a person's descendants in Ancestral File. You may print the chart, but downloading the information is not yet possible. ANCESTRAL FILE CONTRIBUTIONS: NEW HIGH: Ancestral File continues to grow at an accelerating pace. The genealogical community has contributed family history information to Ancestral File on over one million deceased persons in each of the past two months. We are very grateful for the trust and confidence this level of contribution represents. BUILDING THE FILE - Ancestral File depends on the voluntary contributions of genealogists and genealogical organizations. We encourage everyone to contribute information by following the instructions in "Contributing Information to Ancestral File". While most of the file will come from individuals and organizations not affiliated with the Family History Department or the Genealogical Society of Utah, we will continue to do our part. In addition to maintaining the file and manufacturing and distributing the database on compact disc, we are adding some of the more complex research work to the file. Our Medieval Unit continues to add carefully verified names from pre-1500 pedigrees and is considering adding more information from certain other sources. We encourage any who are considering contributing information from the pre-1500 era to first contact the Medieval Families Unit here. FAMILYSEARCH USER GROUPS: Many people wish to contribute to Ancestral File but face difficulties such as - * No access to a computer or inability to use one. * Not enough time to complete research and data entry. * No access to Ancestral File-compatible software. * Not enough time to learn genealogical software. * Poorly organized records. FamilySearch user groups could help overcome many of these barriers. Services they could provide include -- * Sharing computers and Ancestral File-compatible software. * Monthly meetings that offer problem-solving discussions or help members organize their research. * Encouraging youth groups, such as Boy or Girl Scouts, to help computerize records for people who cannot do it. ANCESTRAL FILE COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE: Here is a complete list of Ancestral File-compatible software packages. Also included are the addresses of the companies who produce them. Please keep in mind that some of these software packages require you to use an additional utility program to prepare your information for contribution to Ancestral File. BROTHER'S KEEPER Brother's Keeper 6907 Childsdale Road Rockford, MI 49341 DIGSEN Foreningen DIS Arenprisvagen 111 S-590 62 Linghem Sweden EVERYONE'S FAMILY TREE The Dollarhide Systems, Inc. 203 West Holly Street - M4 Bellingham, WA 98225 206-671-3808 FAMILY ROOTS Quinsept, Inc. P.O. Box 216 Lexington, MA 02173 617-641-2930 FAMILY TIES Computer Services 1050 East 800 South Provo, UT 84601 801-377-2100 FAMILY TREE MAKER EXCHANGE UTILITY Banner Blue Software Inc. P.O. Box 7865 Fremont, CA 94537 415-794-6850 FAMILY TREE PRINT UTILITY Common Sense Software 2068 Trailwood Drive Cincinnati, OH 45230 513-841-7099 GENERATION GAP Flying Pigs Software P.O. Box 688 St. George, UT 84771 801-628-5713 GRIOT ALTERNATIVE Thierry Pertuy 28 Ave France-Lanord Villers-les-Nancy 54600 France 338-328-7207 PERSONAL ANCESTRAL FILE The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ancestral File Operations 50 East North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150 801-240-2585 ROOTS III COMMSOFT, Inc. 2257 Old Middlefield Mountain View, CA 94043 415-967-1900 SESAME COMMSOFT, Inc. 2257 Old Middlefield Mountain View, CA 94043 415-967-1900 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - News of the Family History Library is published six times yearly by the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ISSN 1052-8644. Not available by subscription. General information about the hours and services of the Family History Library is available at 801-240-2331. Comments are welcome. Please address them to: Editor, News of the Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - You can read future editions by checking with your local Family History Center. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ With thanks to Terry Ann on America On Line, who typed this out. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ********************************************************************** * Bill Green Minot, North Dakota * North Dakota * * Internet: green@plains.nodak.edu * We put the Wheat * * ak385@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu * in your * * America On Line: Bill USPS * Wheaties! * *--------------------------------------------------------------------* * Researching: LAMB, BROWN, STANLEY, COOK, MASON, GLEASON, WILSON * * KOTCHIAN, ANHORN, KOHOUTEK, MARSCHALL, HALVENA * **********************************************************************