London Ontario FamilySearch Centre

= Welcome =

OUR GOAL : The goal of the London Ontario Family History Centre is to provide resources to assist you in the research and study of your genealogy and family history. We provide personal one-on-one assistance to patrons, access to genealogical records through the Internet and a microfilm loan program, and free "how-to" classes (See "Class Schedule" below).

OUR LOCATION : We are located at 1139 Riverside Drive, London, Ontario. See contact information for more details (See "Location on Map" link below).

OUR STAFF : The center is staffed by volunteer members of local congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-LDS genealogy enthusiasts from the community. More experienced volunteers may be able to assist you with specific research challenges. (See "Staff Research Specialties") below.

YOUR FIRST VISIT : To make your first visit most effective...


 * collect and organize the information you already have.
 * bring with you to you first visit as much information as you have about the ancestor you wish to research, including available birth, marriage and death information and we will help you move forward from there.
 * call the Centre before you plan to make your first visit especially if you have a specific question or geographical area of interest (519- 473-2421).The answering machine does not take messages so call during centre " open hours " below.

With this information we can tell you in advance if we have a volunteer who has is a specialist in your area of interest.

Centre Contacts and Hours
Address : 1139 Riverside Drive in London, Ontario N6H 2T7 Canada

If you go to the back of the building, west door, there is a buzzer to ring so that a staff member can let you in.

Location on Map

Phone : (519) 473-2421

E-mail:    londonfamilyhistorycentre@gmail.com     ON_London@ldsmail.net

Open Hours:


 * Tuesday: 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.
 * Wednesday: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
 * Thursday: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
 * Saturday: 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Holiday Schedule:


 * Closed the Saturday of Holiday Weekends such as Thanksgiving, Easter, Canada Day and for two weeks during Christmas Holidays.
 * In the event of inclement weather, we may also be closed.See below for more information for the process for closing the Centre due to weather.
 * Please phone to see if we are open before you come.
 * During June, July and August, we are open fewer hours but our answering machine will give you current hours . (Please note that the machine does not take messages).

Computer Issues At The London Ontario History Centre
The computers at the London Ontario Family History Centre have become unstable and undependable. Patrons are welcome to come to the Centre to use Microfilm and Microfiche but the reliability of the computers cannot be guaranteed. The availability of the proprietary programs that can usually be accessed (see Databases and Software below) cannot be assured. If you wish to come to the library to use the computers please be advised that until further notice we cannot promise a successful visit.

We apologize for this and are trying to remedy the situation but it will take some time to correct. It is suggested that you call the library in advance to see if the computer system has been stabilized to avoid disappointment and a waste of time.

The Family History Directors

Easter Weekend
Closed Saturday April 19th due to the Easter weekend.

Genealogy Bus Trip to Archives of Ontario:
For information click here

Tracing Your Ancestors in Ireland - The Basics
Date: Saturday 29 March, 2014

Place: Fanshawe College, St. Thomas

Time: 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Cost: $45

Register at: diversityirish@gmail.com

A schedule and course outline will be sent to you upon registration. As this is a hands-on workshoop enrollment is very limited so pre-registration is essential.

Based on today's schedule (see above), the centre is OPEN.
 Procedures  (for Family Hisory Centre Volunteers)  for Closing the Centre Due to Weather Conditions 

Occasionally the question arises should we close the centre due to weather conditions or other emergencies. We have a sign posted on the back door stating that we will close in inclement weather. So, what constitutes inclement weather and who initiates the closing of the centre? This is a matter that requires clear communication.

The obvious question is one of safety. If you are due to go in for a shift and are uncomfortable coming out in certain weather conditions, we would ask that you use good judgment and not take any risks that you don't wish to. Below are some scenarios that we need to consider.

1. If you work the morning shift  and you are aware of worsening weather conditions  and are in the centre … a) Phone the Directors and let him/her know your decision to close immediately or that the centre should be closed for the afternoon shift. The Directors will go from there with the information and try to let the afternoon shift know the centre is closed. b) If you can’t get in touch with the Directors contact those who are on the afternoon shift and inform them of the closure. Their phone numbers are in the staff folder in the metal hanging file to the left.

2.  If you are on the afternoon shift, you are not in the centre , and you see worsening weather conditions… a) Don’t assume that those running the first shift will know how bad conditions have become. Phone the centre, inform the consultants already working there, and let them know that the centre should be closed for the afternoon, due to poor weather conditions. The consultants already in the Centre may not know that road conditions have deteriorated and they will appreciate the update. This decision can be made without the Directors' input. b) Those consultants in the centre should call the Centre Directors to let them know the Centre has been closed so that the website can reflect this decision. c) If the consultants in the centre know certain regulars who might venture out to the centre and have their phone numbers, they might call them to let them know it will be closed.

3.  If anyone becomes concerned about poor or dangerous weather conditions  forecasted  the day before anyone needs to do a shift ... a) Phone the Directors and let them know about your concern. The Directors will go from there with the information and let the next day’s staff know of the decision to close. The Directors may also come to this decision themselves and let the appropriate staff know in advance. b) If you can’t get in touch with the Directors contact those who are on the shift with you (and the shift after you if that is the case). If among you you feel the need to close the centre, call the Directors back and leave a message and try to inform others if possible.

A good indicator as to whether the centre should be closed is whether the school buses in London and area are running or not. Another indicator is if schools are closed due to the frigid temperatures or stormy weather. If they are closed then the centre should be closed too. If it's not safe for children to be out of doors, we don't want to put our consultants or patrons at risk.

In the final analysis some patrons who might want to venture out in bad weather to get to the centre may choose to call first to see if the centre is open. I would hope that if there is no answer they would decide to stay home. Others may take their own chances as to whether the centre is open or not. Not every base can be covered but we should try.

Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Staff Meetings (Stake Centre):


 * (CENTRE CLEANING DATE) Friday March 28
 * Friday April 11 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

Class Schedule:
NEW FAMILY TREE COURSES BEING OFFERED. CLASSES ARE NOW FULL

Course "A" ( FOR MEMBERS of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints):Using Family Search/Family Tree Software Fridays; March 21, 28, April 4, 11: 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Course "B" FOR NON-MEMBERS of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Using Family Search/Family Tree Software Mondays; March 24, 31, April 7: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

To sign up for either course: email Les Smith at londonfamilyhistorycentre@gmail.com. A maximum of ten people will be accepted so that class members can have needed one-on-one attention. The courses will be run again in the future.

Centre Resources
Centre Resources :

As one of 4600 LDS family history centres worldwide,The London Ontario Family History Centre has...


 * the ability to order any of the microfilms and fiche available through the Family History Library Catalog of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * free online search capabilities for names, indexes, and guides through Family Search/Family Tree online software
 * records and publications from many countries with an emphasis on Middlesex and surrounding counties.
 * free access to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.
 * one-on-one help by consultant volunteers
 * complete set of Cemetery Records for Middlesex County, Elgin &amp; Huron Counties plus other cemetery records for various counties in Ontario

Databases and Software
This centre allows the general public access to the Family History Center Portal page. There they will find premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.The special access that family history centers have been granted to these databases only works when the online services are accessed through a computer in a Family History Center. Please note that entering the web sites of these providers through their regular, public URLs will not provide access to the full versions that have been authorized for family history center use. Below is a list of those databases on our computers:

19 Century British Library Newspapers Database

Access Newspaper Archive

Alexander Street Press - The American Civil War

Ancestry.com

ArkiveDigital Online

Find My Past

Fold3.com

Godfrey Memorial Library

Heritage Quest Online

LegacyStories

Paper Trail

World Vital Records

Hardware and Equipment
Computers, microfilm readers, fiche reader, Reader-printer, computer printers, photocopier.

Staff Research Specialties
England

Scotland

Ontario

If you have an interest in these areas and would like to visit, call ahead (519) 473-2421 to find out when these individuals will be in the centre.

Resources in the Local Area
The London Ontario Family History Centre has (as well as what is noted above) an emphasis on Middlesex and surrounding counties with a comprehensive set of Cemetery Records for Middlesex County, Elgin, and Huron Counties plus other cemetery records for various counties in Ontario.

Links
Family Search Software https://familysearch.org/


 * FamilySearch is a genealogy organization operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch maintains a collection of records, resources, and services designed to help people learn more about their family history. FamilySearch gathers, preserves, and shares genealogical records worldwide. It offers free access to its resources and service online at FamilySearch.org, one of the most heavily used genealogy sites on the Internet.[2] In addition, FamilySearch offers personal assistance at more than 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries, including the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Volunteer at the Centre
If you would like to volunteer at the London Ontario Family History Centre please contact us during open hours mentioned above "Centre Hours and Closing Procedures" (519-473-2421). (Please note that our answering machine does not take messages.)