I purposely planned for a few library days after RootsTech and I’m so glad I did! Combining RootsTech learning with some new realizations was both wonderful and sobering.  Maybe you already realized these things…………

One good talk was on “Avoiding Ancestor Theft,” and how we must be SURE when we’re adding new people to our family tree. We cannot rely on same-name alone; all the factors must concur: name, date and place. Consider this image; is there such a bird? Or cat?

Sure looks real, doesn’t it. But is it?? This was the speaker’s example of how we add 2 + 2 and get 5. His point: just as there are such images posted online, there are fictional trees posted online too. (Woohoo, there is a posted online tree that has John Smith married to Pocahontas!! Do you think??) 

Another thing one of the RootsTech presenters pointed out is this: You are looking for a Robert Smith who married Mary Wilson. But you find an almost perfect match for Robert Smith but he’s married to Rebecca Thompson! Is is the right Robert Smith or not? In other words, don’t get hung up on one marriage; our ancestors were survivors and death came easily so often second and third marriages did happen. 

One last Golden Point I learned. The presenter asked bluntly, “What sources do you swallow as good and add them to your tree?” She was referring to online trees, especially the older ones like Pedigree Resource File, Ancestral File, the very ancient IGI. She cautioned us to note them as exactly what they are: tidbits that might be true or not. Mostly usually not. 

Trivia:  The presentations from 2023 RootsTech are and will be available online for at least a year. Google and learn!!

 First news of all is the name change: our favorite genealogy library is now the FamilySEARCH Library and new signs on the building proclaim that. Makes sense; FamilySearch is the “umbrella” program we all use. 

Second big change is the arrangement of each floor. The first floor is a welcome-and-entry-level-help with an army of smiling volunteers. They’ll give you an iPad and key to your tree on FamilySearch and you go to stations to learn things like what’s the origin of your surname, info on the place you were born, etc. Fun-fun-fun!

The second floor is totally different. The microfilm cabinets are still there but gone is that “dark alley” of big hooded film readers. Now there are table-stations, each with a film reader (foreground) and two screens….. you can view and print right from your chair.

Third floor still has all the US and Canada books; most family histories are digitally available through the catalog. And there are fewer tables but bigger stations with two computer screens. 

Not quite sure about B-1 and B-2; they’re still international but also have been re-arranged.

Trivia:  The Salt Lake airport is totally re-done also! It’s bigger, and (of course) more spread out. The Plaza hotel is still there (thankfully!) but as of this spring, there is no in-house restaurant. They tell me they have strong nibbles for one to come soon.  Temple Square is still under construction and we’ll have to walk around until 2026, I understand. The restaurants in the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg are closed too. As you’d guess, this makes getting meals a bit more difficult but within two blocks is the Food Court and others. 

Don’t be shy about going to spend time in the FamilySearch Library! They’re eager to help us with any genealogical problem.