Posts
I have mentioned previously that the Mesa FamilySearch Library in Mesa, Arizona is still closed and awaiting a decision about its future. It has been closed since the end of November, 2014, at the date of this post, nearly nine months. In addition, here in Utah, the Utah South Area Family History Training Center in Orem, Utah, one of the most active family history training centers, was precipitously closed on August 5, 2015.
It is not presently clear as to the future of the Mesa FamilySearch Library, but that facility was serving thousands of patrons, especially during the winter months when Mesa is flooded with winter visitors. Unfortunately, the future of the Utah South Area Family History Training Center is clear. Absent a resurrection, it is closed.
We have already begun to feel the impact of the closure of the Utah South Area Family History Training Center at the Brigham Young University Family History Library where even I have been asked about the possibility of some of the volunteers and missionaries coming from the USAFHC to the BYU Family History Library.
Two such events has caused me to wonder if there is a fundamental change in the offing? From my own experience with Family History Centers, I am aware that some of them are understaffed and struggling with few patrons. Recently, FamilySearch has opened locations with a new concept called Family History Discovery Centers.
Maybe there is a consideration (speculation on my part) that some of these larger centers need to be transformed into a more attractive and currently supported format?
On the other hand, there is a brand new, Family History Center Director, section on LDS.org.
Maybe there is new direction for the existing Family History Centers? Perhaps you should read the new section on Family History Center Directors carefully, especially if you are one or have some administrative responsibility for a Family History Center.
That's very sad James. I hadn't heard about the Mesa FHC being closed. I know it is quite a popular location. I live in San Diego and we have a large and active center here, which I hope is not in danger. Our genealogy society has small group meetings there. I just ordered a film and it awaits my viewing. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteHmmm interesting. This is striking and reminds me of what I heard over and over at the BYU Family History Conference the end of July 2015 from friends serving as missionaries and friends going as patrons to the SLC Family History Library. Every one of them said something is going on. It began in the summer of 2013 when over 50% of the professional consultants were let go from the FH Library. Some were transferred elsewhere, but others were just fired. Then the consultant reference stations were taken away, and folks were handed a buzzer to make an appointment with a remaining consultant, and await for your turn. Then many well trained missionaries were released, and many patron classes stopped. Now patrons find untrained or poorly trained missionaries, and young missionaries, who don't help much. Books are not shelved properly, and chaos seems to reign. I had heard many were displeased, but I was shocked to hear that this general state of affairs as reported by at least 5 people casually met at the BYU conference is prevalent in a world renowned FH library. Are Discovery Centers, like Disney places, going to replace the libraries and centers? FamilySearch is building a huge building in Thanksgiving Park where a Discovery Center will be located, as well as places for engineers. So ???? Everyone is just shaking their heads in disbelief. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteA Discovery Center without an FHC Research Library to back it up, is like having a foyer, with no actual house behind it. The interactive Discovery Center is like the foyer, inviting people in and welcoming them to the wonderful world of genealogy. But once you get inspired, you need the research materials, databases, films, AND books to do the actual research. That research library is like the house that the Discovery Center foyer invites us into. Without a research library to back it up, the Discovery Center is just a foyer, with no house.
ReplyDeleteI volunteer at my local FHC and I do see the visitation ebb and flow. But we do provide a needed service and for those looking for the actual house (library), having just a foyer (museum - however interactive) will be a real disappointment. Our patrons come to do serious research that they cannot do from home. We need to educate more people on the valuable resources available in person at the FHCs.
So is it somehow forbidden to ask why the Orem FHTC was closed? Why all the changes in staffing patterns and educational efforts at the Salt Lake City FHL? Or are responses just not explanations?
ReplyDeleteI suppose you could always ask, but who would you ask?
DeleteThe Family History Center Director at Orem would be one place to start. As a genealogist/detective, you should be able to map out a research strategy :-)
DeleteI served at the FHTC and attended the closure announcement meeting. The center was housed in a YSA Stake building. That stake added two more wards and needed the offices for a Bishop, Ward Clerks, a Stake Relief Society President, and a Stake Patriarch. We were told the main reason for the closure was that there weren't any Church-owned buildings in the area that could house the center.
DeleteI served at the FHTC and attended the closure announcement meeting. The center was housed in a YSA Stake building. That stake added two more wards and needed the offices for a Bishop, Ward Clerks, a Stake Relief Society President, and a Stake Patriarch. We were told the main reason for the closure was that there weren't any Church-owned buildings in the area that could house the center.
DeleteHere's a newspaper article about Jay Grant, the director of the Utah South Area Family History Training Center.
Deletehttp://www.heraldextra.com/news/community/a-director-with-dedication-family-history-guru-spends-years-teaching/article_597f7a5d-df47-5b5b-babf-16cce65b8aaf.html
This tends to be a trend everywhere ... I have been a volunteer at 2 diff FHC over the last 25+ years and my last one cut their hours beginning of the year, now closed on the day I used to volunteer, and have eliminated all permanent collections ... they have returned all films and fiche that aren't present orders, got rid of all but 1 film reader and one fiche reader and have removed 95% of the books. Granted in a small FHC like here there aren't a lot of patrons, but still you don't just dump everything and just be open 2 afternoons a week .....
ReplyDelete