Sandy Utah Granite FamilySearch Center



The hours of 3-5 p.m. weekdays, are prioritized for youth research and activities.

For class schedules and times, see the main website at www.granitefhc.com

Please visit our main website at www.granitefhc.com for calendar, classes and other information.


 * Center Director: Glen Steenblik
 * E-mail: questions@granitefhc.com
 * Phone: 801-943-3005 - please leave a message if no answer
 * Address: 2720 Newcastle Drive, Sandy UT 84093 Google Maps


 * Parking: Only a few parking spots are available at the FHC (plus 1 handicap space), but patrons may park across the street at Albion Middle School or on Newcastle Drive. Please do not park in front of houses in the area.


 * Entrance: For patron safety, please ring the doorbell at the east entrance, and a volunteer will escort you into the center. Once inside, please sign in at the main desk.


 * Closed: Closed on Mondays and holidays

Reservations
To reserve all or part of the Center for a group activity, contact Jossy Swain at at (801)455-2996 or [Mailto:josman55@yahoo.com josman55@yahoo.com].

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The Family Ties Newsletter!
To subscribe to the free newsletter, send a message to newsletter@granitefhc.com and include "Subscribe" in the subject line.

If you have information to include in the newsletter, please send it to the above email address no later than the 25th of the month.

Calendar of Events
Visit the main website calendar for current activities www.granitefhc.com.

Meeting Areas
The main area of the Family History Center is divided into a Research Room (north side) and a Gathering Room (south side). Wi-fi is available in the entire building, and dividers may be used to separate the rooms.


 * Research Area (Room 102) - There are 20 workstations in the Research Area for patrons to do family history research. (See Hardware and Equipment below for more details.) There is also an additional space next to each workstation, available power and cable outlets. This area is also used for classes taught at the Center. Modern A/V systems are installed in the Research Room (102) and Gathering Room (101) for presentations. Groups wanting to reserve the Research Room (102) should contact Jossy Swain at [mailto:josman55@yahoo.com josman55@yahoo.com].


 * Gathering Room (Room 101) - The Gathering Room is an open space with a large sofa sectional, tables, and chairs, and plenty of open space. It also has 4 desktop computers for research and 10 laptop computers. It’s designed for hosting youth, organizations, families, and anyone who wants to get together to discuss family history. This is an ideal area for working on group projects, such as photo albums, history projects, etc. There is a large whiteboard for activities. A modern A/V system is also installed for presentations. Groups wanting to reserve the Gathering Room (102) should contact Jossy Swain at [mailto:josman55@yahoo.com josman55@yahoo.com]

Databases and Software
FHC Portal This center has access to the Family History Center Portal page, which gives free access in the center to premium family history software and websites that generally charge for subscriptions.

Family history programs installed on each workstation:
 * Chrome Browser
 * FamilySearch Indexing
 * FamilySearch Card Catalog
 * The Family History Guide
 * Snipping Tool
 * Libra Office
 * XnView
 * Roots Magic
 * Map My Family Tree
 * Generation Maps
 * Genelines
 * Charting Companion
 * Ancestral Quest

Hardware and Equipment



 * 28 All-in-one workstations running Windows 7 Pro and connected to a high-speed T1 data line. Each workstation has six available USB ports and an SD port, as well as connection to the Center's printer/scanner.
 * High speed, flatbed and book scanners
 * High speed slide digitization
 * Audio/video duplication and digitization
 * Wireless access for laptops and mobile devices
 * High-quality B/W printer/scanner
 * Audio/visual equipment including digital projectors and displays
 * Color  printing of fan charts is available from designated computers

Questions and Suggestions
Do you have questions about the Center, or would you like to make a suggestion for improvement? Please send an email to this address: questions@granitefhc.com.

Volunteers
The volunteers who assist at the Family History Center are not paid, and they are typically not professionals in genealogical research. They do have a desire to help and have been trained in the basic approaches needed to assist most family history researchers who visit the Family History Center. There are two volunteers on staff at all times during operating hours, with shifts rotating every two hours. Please note that during busy times personal attention may be limited.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who can use the Center? A: The Center is open to everyone, whether or not they live in the immediate area, and it is free of charge.

Q2: Can I bring food or drink to the Center? A: Food and drink may not be consumed in the main rooms. There are no vending machines or food onsite. There are drinking fountains, and you may drink bottled water in the main rooms.

Q3: What other guidelines should I be aware of? A: Use quiet conversation so as not to disturb others who are working. If you need to use audio in the research room, use headphones. Do not remove any materials from the FHC without permission.

Q4: How do I sign up for classes? A: See the information on the main website. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Q5: Can I access the Premium Sites from the Wiki or from home? A: No, the Premium sites are only available at the Center. However, the church is partnering with Ancestry.com, and church members will soon be able to have free access to Ancestry.

Research
Whether you’re brand-new with family history or an expert researcher – or somewhere in-between – there is a wealth of resources available at the Family History Center for your family history research.

What If I’m New to Family History?
Remember, you’re not alone as a new researcher, and volunteers are ready and willing to answer your questions and get you started. Here are several activities you can get started with:


 * Sharing stories about your ancestors
 * Sharing photos and digital albums
 * Participating in an indexing project
 * Doing research to find information about your ancestors
 * Preparing names to be submitted to an LDS temple for ordinances

You can start making headway with these activities by visiting the online resources mentioned in the Family History Links section below.

FamilySearch.org
Here are some recommended areas on the FamilySearch.org website if you’re new to family history research:


 * https://familysearch.org/ask/gettingStarted
 * https://familysearch.org/ask/productSupport
 * https://familysearch.org/ask/researchAssistance
 * https://familysearch.org/temple/all

And here’s where you can dive into your own research:


 * https://familysearch.org/search
 * https://familysearch.org/blog/en/easy-beginning-descendancy-research/
 * http://thefhguide.com

Other Links

 * Library of Congress, Washington, DC, Local History and Genealogy Reading Room
 * National Archives, Washington DC
 * Church History Library, Salt Lake City
 * Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City
 * Utah State Historical Society, Salt Lake City
 * BYU Family History Library, Provo
 * Utah State Archives, Salt Lake City

Volunteering at the Center
To volunteer at the Sandy Granite Family History Center, please email questions@granitefhc.com. Each shift is two hours long.