Benefits of Attending the
Salt Lake Tour

Following are just a few great reasons for joining the Salt Lake Christmas Tour in 2008!

The variety of records to research in the Family History Library is astounding.

There are so many different record types available that I could never list them all. However, there are Probates, Vital Records, Parish Registers, Deeds, Federal and State Censuses and a thousand other kinds of records all just a few feet from where you can sit in the Family History Library.

Records from all over the world are available to search - old records - and new. Records are added to the collection on a daily basis. Records unattainable six months ago may be on the shelf and waiting for you today! Not only are millions of films available, but thousands of books - books that are non-circulating and can only be used within the library - all available for your research.

When you find your family in one record type in the library, you can quickly move on to other records, locating them all within a matter of minutes.

Professional genealogists will help you every step of the way

The Salt Lake Christmas Tour is known for having the best professionals in the business. These folks work right alongside the attendees - helping them with the rough spots in their research.

We're proud of the fact that the Salt Lake Christmas Tour has more professionals per attendee than any other tour to Salt Lake City.

Can't read the language? No problem - chances are, one of our professionals can. Are you stuck on a line and don't know what to do or where to turn next? Our pros can help you get that line moving again.

Most of our professionals are in the library - helping in the area of the library which matches their expertise - from about 9 am to 5:30 or so. We also have a couple pros that work the evening shift. So if you need assistance between 5 and 9, someone is there to help.

Attendees sign up for half hour blocks of time with the professionals. There are enough pros that most attendees can work with someone whenever they need assistance. I've found that from mid-week on or so, it's often possible for attendees to get professional assistance without having to sign up ahead of time.

There's never any reason on a Salt Lake Christmas Tour for any attendee to be sitting around stuck on a project. There's always someone waiting to help out.

Our professionals use the library on a regular basis

The Salt Lake Christmas Tour only uses the best professional researchers to work with our attendees. Our professionals are intimately acquainted with the library and its holdings. These researchers work in the library nearly every day and know where to locate materials at an instant's notice.

Compare this with other popular tours to Salt Lake, using well-known genealogists as their "helpers" - genealogists that only use the collection once or twice a year. Who do you think can help you find your ancestors better? Someone that uses the library every day - or someone who comes to Salt Lake once or twice a year?

Another plus for the Salt Lake Christmas Tour is that if one professional can't seem to help you find your ancestor, there are nearly a dozen others that might be able to. Great minds don't always think alike. Take advantage of all our great professionals.

No waiting or paying for films to arrive by interlibrary loan

The Family History Library has millions of films available - most by interlibrary loan to Family History Centers worldwide. However, if you've ever used the system, you know that waiting for the films takes time. Besides that, microfilm rental costs are up. By joining the Salt Lake Christmas tour, you won't have to pay $5.50 every time you walk over and pick up a microfilm. You might be able to pay for your trip by the film rental savings alone!

By joining us on the Salt Lake Christmas Tour, you do away with all that "wait" time, and film expense. Search the roll that you believe might have your ancestor on it. If that doesn't work out, move on immediately to another roll - free! If you have a breakthrough in your research and need information that's in another film or book, you can access it immediately. This allows you to get a lot done in a small space of time.

Stay next door and immerse yourself in your genealogy

The Salt Lake Christmas Tour uses the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel as our tour headquarters. We sleep, eat breakfast, attend classes and have all our "functions" in the hotel. The hotel is just across the alley from the library, so even if it's snowing (which it does occasionally), you can walk to and from the library without spending a lot of time in the cold.

Since we stay so close to the Family History Library, it's very easy to go back and forth between the buildings. As for research time in the library, if you wish, you can get up to 72 hours of time in the library while you're on the tour. The Library hours are from 8 am to 5 pm on Monday, but from Tuesday through Saturday, they run from 8 am to 9 pm.

The Family History Library is easy to use

First, it should be noted that you may bring in your "stuff." Take your laptop, briefcase full of family group sheets, your maps, ancestor charts, notebooks, and anything else you might need while working in the library. Sure, you may be asked to open your briefcase on the way out - but chances are you won't. The Library has a fantastic security system protecting the valuable books and films held there. Thieves can't get out the door with them - so this means you can bring your stuff in and out without much bother.

Not only is the Library user friendly, but the resources are arranged in a logical order, making the locating of books, films, maps and so forth pretty easy to do.

The Library underwent extensive remodeling and expansion a couple years ago. If you haven't used the library lately, you'll find it vastly changed and improved. December is traditionally a slow month at the Library. This means that access to photocopiers, computers, film printers and digitizers is easier than ever. The copy centers on each floor have been opened up, allowing more room and easier access.

Genealogy Education

The Salt Lake Christmas Tour is known for the wealth of genealogy classes taught during the week. Classes actually start on Sunday evening and run all week long. This year, a total of 26 classes are planned - with more to be added. At times, two tracks may be running simultaneously. However, when this is done, one track is typically for beginners, while the other is for advanced researchers.

Classes this year will be taught by Joy Price, George Ott, Loni Gardner, Kevan Hansen, William Dollarhide, Arlene Eakle, Leland Meitzler, Dwight Radford, and Bill Balter. Illya D'Addezio, the founder of Genealogy Today, is also flying out and will speak to the group.

The Camaraderie of the Group is Part of the Fun

Attendees at the Salt Lake Genealogy Christmas Tour come not only to do research in the Family History Library, but many come back year after year to enjoy the fun times with folks that have become their friends. Each morning, everyone gathers around large tables for breakfast, discussing their research problems as well as their successes. On Saturday night, everyone will gather together for a farewell Pie & ice cream social.

Your Non-Genealogist Spouse Will Love It!

While you research at the Family History Library - enjoying the Salt Lake Christmas Tour, your non-genealogist spouse may come along and enjoy the local attractions.

Many folks come on the tour with husbands or wives that aren't really into genealogy. Salt Lake City is a great area for activities other than family history. World-class ski resorts are just an hour away. Utah Skiing is addictive. Your spouse will want to come back for more!

Finally - You may find more ancestors than ever before!

By joining us in Salt Lake City on a Salt Lake Christmas Tour, you will be in the right place - at the right time - to locate more ancestors than may have ever found before. Sign up today and we'll send you all the details!

Or check out some of the tour feedback from prior years.