The Studio has released still another video in their series of
genealogy instructional videotapes. The Video Guide to the Salt Lake City
Family History Library features Jim and Paula Stuart Warren. This couple
has been visiting the Library for many years and wrote a book about the Library
that I reviewed in the 5 December 2001 edition of this newsletter. My review
of their book is available here.
Jim and Paula live in Minnesota. However, they have visited the
Family History Library in Salt Lake City many, many times. They have an excellent
"visitors’ view" of the Family History Library and other sites
of interest in the area. As a result, they are experienced and able to give
advice to other visitors, often mentioning things that local Salt Lake City
residents might not think about.
Jim and Paula start the videotape by giving an orientation to
the Family History Library. They describe the areas where the records are stored
as well as the computer workstations, microfilm viewers, bulletin board areas,
and the facilities for physically handicapped visitors. They even give directions
to the location of the ATM machine on the first floor for those who need money
for all those extra photocopies they had not planned on making that day. They
also describe the recent renovations made at the Library, useful information
for a returning visitor who has not been there for a while.
The videotape continues for more than an hour, describing the
facility and demonstrating how to find the records you seek. They describe the
use of the available microfilms, books, and computer workstations. They even
show how to use the Library’s high-tech photocopiers that use prepaid cards.
Unlike a few years ago, library patrons no longer need to carry a bucket of
coins to make their copies.
Jim and Paula interject a lot of humor into their instruction
and suggestions. One humorous story that Jim relates is his description of a
gentleman at a nearby microfilm viewer shortly after lunch. Apparently, the
fellow had a full lunch and perhaps not enough sleep the night before. Jim eventually
noticed that the gentleman apparently had fallen asleep; his forehead was pressed
against the top of the viewer so that he hadn’t slumped over. His finger
was still on the switch of the electric reel motor in such a manner that the
microfilm was still slowly scrolling by his closed eyes. As Jim suggested, I
would hate to think that the one existent record of his long-lost great-great-grandfather
scrolled by while the man’s eyes were closed! Jim’s advice? Have frequent
breaks and a light lunch!
Near the end of this seventy-five-minute videotape, Jim and Paula
tell about other facilities in the area with which genealogists will want to
become familiar. They describe the Family Search Center located in the Joseph
Smith Building. They also describe the nearby hotels, restaurants, and shopping
centers. They even give information about Salt Lake City’s light rail system
that makes it easy to visit other areas of the city or to stay in a hotel in
the suburbs, commuting in daily. All of this is valuable information to the
visiting genealogist.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City averages two thousand,
four hundred visitors each day, many of whom have spent a significant amount
of money to travel long distances. If you are one of the people planning such
a visit, I’d suggest that you prepare well in advance in order to maximize
your time in the Library. The Video Guide to the Salt Lake City Family History
Library with Jim and Paula Stuart Warren can be a big help in your planning
efforts.
The Video Guide to the Salt Lake City Family History Library
is available directly from The Studio and sells for $15.95 plus postage. For
more information or to order this video via a safe and secure online Web server,
here
For more information about the many activities of Jim and Paula
Stuart Warren, including their books, audio tapes, and lecture schedule, look
at: www.warrenresearch.com.
Dick Eastman Online
