Surrey British Columbia FamilySearch Centre

Location and Map

 * 6270 126th Street Surrey BC south side of building. There is a buzzer just to the left of the main doors to be buzzed.
 * Parking is free for our patrons.
 * Location on Map

Contact Information


''' Phone: 604 597 9695 during open hours or leave a message that will be answered during open hours. '''

 E-mail: BC_surrey@familyhistorymail.org 

 or surreyfhc@gmail.com 

WE ARE NOW OPEN - HOURS BELOW

FALL AND WINTER HOURS: Except for holiday closures and summer hours. ''' ***During inclement weather call ahead to be sure the center is open. '''

Tuesdays 10 am to 9 pm Wednesdays 11 am to 3 pm  No appointments are required.

To keep us all safe: Covid safety precautions

____________
 * All equipment is sanitized after each use.
 * Hand sanitizer is available and either hand washing or sanitizing is required before you enter the centre.
 * Hope to see you there.

SUMMER HOURS - Summer hours are from 2nd week of July through the 1st week of September 2023

Tuesdays 10 am to 9 pm

All other visits must be by appointment - contact surreyfhc@gmail.com to request a visit

HOLIDAY CLOSURES

Closed all Statutory Holidays

 Please contact our centre to get up to date closures, to check our hours, or to arrange group visits or arrange special help. Call: 605 597 9695 or email surreyfhc@gmail.com

Christmas/New Years Closure

December 15, 2022 to January 9, 2023

13/14 December - OPEN

20/21 December - CLOSED

27/28 December - CLOSED

3/4 January - CLOSED

10/11 January - OPEN

Summer Closure Usually the last two weeks of June and first week of July

Calendar and Events
All classes are currently being held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required.

Pre-registration links will be posted here.

Collections

 * FamilySearch Catalog Films: We have many films and fiche on extended loan. So even though film ordering has ended you can still access these resources at our center.
 * Index of all the extended films/fiche in our center is available on our computers.
 * Film indexes for Ontario.
 * Icelandic Census books
 * Icelandic Census books

Book & Acquisitions
We have an inhouse collection of books on various topics and countries. An index of these books is available on our computers at the centre.

We have acquired a large collection of Ukrainian and Polish research books.

FamilySearch Resources
Some FamilySearch resources are only available at FamilySearch Centers

Some are available from home.


 * Over 500,000 digital books
 * Historical Records - searchable records and often images from many of the countries of the world
 * Historical Images - newly added record images - about 5 billion of these
 * A searchable Community Tree - search only or add your own records
 * Genealogies - thousands of searchable family tree submitted by individuals, websites and organizations
 * Catalog - of all the film, fiche and digital holding of the FamilySearch Library
 * Research Wiki - a resource to find records, learn about countries, how to research etc.

FamilySearch Center Portal
This centre has access to the Family History Center Portal page which gives free access in the centre to subscription websites.

(List may be different than those listed if FamilySearch has changed the sites we can access.)

Premium Databases Include the following
 * 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archive
 * Alexander Street Press• The American Civil War: Research Database, Letters and Diaries, Images, Photographs, Posters, and Ephemera, Social and Cultural History, Women and Social Movements in the United States
 * American Ancestors
 * Ancestry.com - Institution version
 * Archive Digital
 * FamNet
 * Findmypast - Institution version
 * Fold3.com
 * Geneanet
 * MyHeritage - Library Edition
 * NewspaperArchive
 * Paper Trail
 * Puzzilla.org - Premium Services
 * We also have database programs for information storing of your genealogical work such as Legacy, Roots Magic, and Ancestral Quest. We have the deluxe paid versions at our center. You may download the basic free version for use at home.

Hardware and Equipment
Our centre has 12 computers, 2 printers, 3 fiche readers, 4 film readers including 1 high magnification reader, and a multi functional digital copier/scanner/printer.

Center Services
REMOTE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY HISTORY HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM OUR STAFF USING PHONE OR ZOOM

To get help: Contact us through surreyfhc@gmail.com and let us know what you need help with.

We will arrange a time for our staff to assist you from home.

(We will not be able to access resources only available at the FHC.)

If you are not familiar with how a virtual consultant meeting works, it’s pretty simple. The consultant will email the patron an invitation to join a Zoom meeting. After the patron joins, they will choose the option on the tools bar to share their screen. Once the screen sharing feature is enabled, the consultant will be able to guide the patron as they visit the websites needed to work on their family history. It’s like having a consultant right by your side looking at the same screen and talking you through the process.

GROUP VISITS - youth groups, adult groups, children's groups and family groups. Email: surreyfhc@gmail.com on what types of instruction are available and to book a visit, etc.

NEW SERVICE: One on One Assistance at the centre- to book this email surreyfhc@gmail.com and you will be contacted with times available. Often individual assistance is available from regular staff without an appointment. However, if you wish to be sure there is a knowledgeable staff member available you can book an appointment.


 * 1) Patrons can scan photos to memory sticks and upload them to the FamilySearch Family Tree site.
 * 2) Patrons at the center have free access to 12 premium databases including Ancestry and Findmypast. We can help you get the most out of these
 * 3) Our friendly staff can assist with uploading images and doing research using FamilySearch and the Premium Databases
 * 4) We teach individuals and groups how to do FamilySearch Indexing, how to research using FamilySearch, how to complete the My Family booklet and enter data in Family Tree.
 * 5) We can help you create fan charts, photo pedigrees, etc. using Treeseek
 * 6) We can help you use the Premium versions of Puzzilla to find more cousins.

Executive Committee:  Leader: Wayne Walker

Assistant Leader: Terry Rogers Patron Services Coordinator: Technical Coordinator: George Caldwell

Training Coordinator: Scheduling Coordinator: Barbara McMullin

Associate Administrator: Jacquie Jarvis

Specialists: (other consultants may also have knowledge for researching in these areas)

Scotland - George Caldwell

England - Marilyn Ponting, Jeannie Vance

Ontario: Jeannie Vance, Sharon Russell or Terry or Margaret Rogers

New England: Terry Rogers

Maritimes: Terry Rogers or Margaret Rogers

FamilySearch - Jeannie Vance

Translation
We also know individuals who can help with translation of Russian, Ukrainian, French, and ancient Chinese script. We can connect you with these individuals by request.