Q. You often refer to “FamilySearch Centers” in Family Tree Magazine. What is a FamilySearch Center?

A. It’s a great resource for genealogists. FamilySearch Centers (sometimes called Family History Centers) are branches of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ (LDS church) Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City.

You don’t have to be a member of the LDS church to visit FamilySearch Centers.

The FHL has microfilmed genealogy records from all over the world, but not everyone can get to Utah to view them. But you can visit a FamilySearch Center near you to rent FHL microfilm for $5.50 per roll. You also can use the center’s computers to search the FHL's online catalog for microfilmed records that may name your ancestors, and to access several subscription genealogy Web sites.

Centers are staffed with volunteers who often can help you search the catalog, answer questions and offer advice on your search.

There are something like 4,500 FamilySearch Centers all over the world. To find one near you, you can download our location directory as a PDF or search by location on FamilySearch.

Some tips for using a FamilySearch Center:

• Call ahead for updated hours. It doesn’t hurt to call again the day of your visit to make sure the center’s open, especially for small facilities. Since the centers are volunteer-staffed, if the person who’s supposed to open that day is sick, or stuck at home in bad weather, there’s not necessarily always a back-up person waiting to fill in.

• Have an idea of the records you’re looking for. You can search the FHL online catalog from home, print listings for records you want to rent, and bring them with you. If you want the center staff to help you use the catalog, know the place and time frame you’re interested in. (Unless you’re looking for family history books, which don’t circulate to FamilySearch centers, you’ll search the catalog by a place or topic, not an ancestor’s name.)

• Bring cash with you—film rental fees are due when you place the order, and most centers can’t take checks or credit.

• Once you place your microfilm order, it can take four to six weeks to arrive. You’ll get a phone call when it does; you have about 30 days to stop in and view the film on the center’s microfilm readers.

• Some centers have their own microfilm copies of popular records, such as censuses for the local area, as well as a small collection of books and other resources. Ask about these when you visit.