Family Search – Virtual Interaction Opportunities

By Barbara Ware

In this pandemic era, the researcher’s ability to access some records has been reduced. On the bright side, many genealogical record repositories are looking for new ways to connect with their usual customer base! The Family History Library is a great example of that strategy.

Webinars. FamilySearch is offering periodic online webinars. These are now being scheduled live through the ZOOM platform. The first Monday of each month features a class on using the FamilySearch catalog. On the first Tuesday of each month, the topic is the FamilySearch Family Tree. For example, the September class was called Merging and Correcting Relationships in Family Tree. Each of the sessions include downloadable handouts. There are also webinars on European, British, Asia, and United States research topics.

Click on Link to Webinar to register. This sends an email with the Zoom meeting link for you to use to attend the webinar. Note that all sessions are scheduled in Mountain Time (MT).

Older recorded classes can be found in the Family Search Learning Center. These are listed alphabetically by topic, but do not include handouts.

Consultations. FamilySearch is also offering online consultation appointments. These are free 20-minute consultations using the TEAMS platform. For more information on scheduling and preparing for an online consultation, refer to this link.

Local FHC information. The three Dallas Area Family History Centers, Carrollton, Plano, and Richardson along with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When open, the local family centers provide online access to digital records, some of which are not available through the Dallas Public Library’s Family History Library access. They are staffed by volunteers to assist in family research. You can check out the Plano FHC page here.