Talk:FamilySearch Centers

Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_History_Center_(LDS_Church)

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Not sure why "source" is listed on the talk page.

Is it really important to clarify the difference between ward, stake, and multi-stake FHCs? It seems to me that this is information only important to those who administer the center, not those who use it. The wiki isn't meant to be a supplement to or replacement for the Administrative Guide, so I would propose that the sections covering ecclesiastical boundary be removed. Also, this article has content overlapping at least two other articles. Maybe time to pare them down to one? Lise 01:18, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Reply
The primary FHC article was on Wikipedia. AND use without crediting the source is wrong. Wrong in many ways. IE legally, morally and ethically.

More than 60% of the people using Family History Centers are non-LDS. Many first timers look up FHC at familysearch.org and find a "Family History Center" close to where they live. Then they show up and find a LDS ward building, AND no sign regarding a FHC. Then, IF THEY ARE LUCKY they meet someone and get a name or find out it is only open for a few hours each week for use of 1 or more computers and NO local local history material. Many feel cheated and view the effort as a waste of time and effort. Many non-LDS have mentioned to me that it is just another gimick to get non-members to show up for missionary work. The Stake FHC might be a little better in equipment and a Multi-Stake much better than that. The best "FHCs" still out there are the old regional FHCs. They are library class facilities often with local history and material for their area. Some have more than 90% non-member use. We actually could use more of these type facilities. Please remember that Familysearch wiki is not only for LDS members. Many non-LDS use it and are encouraged to use it to learn things about genealogy and family history for example. And new-LDS members are as often ignorant - not knowing of things - as non-LDS users. The LDS Church had over 4,625 FHCs at one time. That number is now at 4,450 or so. Now many of the ward and stake FHCs are shutting down. For example, the Salt Lake City area shut down over 80 under-used ward and stake FHC to open up Riverton Familysearch FHC. Are all FHCs equal? No way and no how. Do we need to be honest and clear regarding the differences between FHCs? You betcha! Otherwise it is dishonest morally and intellectually.

I hope this helps explain the reasoning for the two items you brought up. Jrcrin001 05:33, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Hi Jrcrin001 - Thanks for your comments. It sounds like we have similar perspective but a different approach to communicating relevant information about Family History Centers. I stand by my concern that patrons don't need an explanatin of ecclesiastical units, they just need to know what to expect when they show up at a Family History Center. The effort under way currently to create wiki pages for each Family History Center will help set appropriate expectations. The FamilySearch "Find a FamilySearch Center" function does not designate ecclesiastical unit - it gives location, hours, and contact information. That's what patrons need. You raise a good point about Wikipedia. It makes sense to polish up the very best FamilySearch wiki article on Family History Centers, and then provide better information in Wikipedia and link to the FamilySearch wiki. The information on Wikipedia is very dated.

The source information for any article belongs in a footnote or endnote to that article and not the talk page. If you need help creating the citation, you might find the article How to Add Citations helpful.

In the broader perspective, I believe this article is redundant. Take a look at Introduction to LDS Family History Centers and Finding a Family History Center and Ordering Micorfilm or Microfiche from a Family History Center and the section on Family History Centers in the article Obtain the Record. This is a good opportunity to combine elements of these articles to craft ONE complete, accurate and concise article on Family History Centers. Lise 11:02, 21 April 2011 (UTC)