It seems like only yesterday I checked the count for digitized books on FamilySearch.org and there were only 35,000. Time flies! Obviously, someone has been busy. If you’ve never looked at this collection, or it’s been awhile, I suggest you take a few minutes to see what they’ve got. I can almost guarantee you success if you search for a surname or locality in your family tree.
This collection is easily overlooked. We tend to rush right by and plug names into the records or tree search boxes. You can access the books by clicking on “search” from the home page, and then clicking on “books”. Easy-Peasy! Unlike other book digitization sites like Google Books, HathiTrust, or Internet Archive, FamilySearch’s book collection focuses on family histories and local histories. These books come from the following repositories:
- Allen County Public Library
- Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
- Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library
- Brigham Young University Hawaii Joseph F. Smith Library
- Brigham Young University Idaho David O. McKay Library
- Church History Library
- Family History Library
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Houston Public Library – Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research
- Mid-Continent Public Library – Midwest Genealogy Center
- Onondaga County Public Library
- University of Florida, George A. Smathers Libraries
On Granny's Trail 