During the recent RootsTech Connect 2021 Conference, I participated in an outreach program sponsored by the Salt Lake City, Utah Family History Library. The Family History Library has an extensive system of online consultations. Here is a screenshot of the Research Consultations web page.
This is an ongoing program that is still functioning and will continue to function in the future. Essentially, anyone around the world can sign up for a twenty-minute consultation with a Family History Library consultant. The consultants are primarily missionary/volunteers with the Library. When you sign up for a consultation, you are asked to fill out a brief summary of your experience and the questions you would like to discuss. The sign-up process asked you to select an area of research and then the program matches you with a volunteer who can help you in that area including matching you with someone who speaks your native language if that is possible. You are then offered a time slot that matches the availability of the consultant and a Zoom meeting is arranged.
When you connect to your Zoom meeting, assuming you have a device with video capabilities, you will be able to see the consultant and he or she will be able to see you. You can then ask you questions and receive help from the consultant. If you need to share your screen then you will able to do so. The consultant can also share his or her screen to help you set some research goals. The consultants are not there to do the research for you but to help you understand how to find the information you need to do the research.
The instructions for the entire process are on the FamilySearch.org website. See this screenshot for an explanation of the Virtual Research Strategy Sessions.
https://www.familysearch.org/family-history-library/family-history-library-research-consultations
During the week of RootsTech Connect 2021, I was scheduled for 36 twenty-minute consultations. The preparation time was significant. Many of the questions involved challenging research issues. Also, some of the sessions were in Spanish. It was interesting and somewhat of a challenge to switch quickly between English and Spanish and to work with questions dealing with South America, Italy, Spain, England, Ireland, the United States, and other areas of the world. The sessions were scheduled in two-hour blocks with ten minutes in between the three twenty-minute segments. I was able to schedule the segments according to my personal schedule.
Let me emphasize: this is an ongoing program. You can click on the link and set up your own research consultation session. I am not presently participating because I was only scheduled for the week during RootsTech but I hope to help out in the near future. There is also a possibility that the same program will be established at the Brigham Young University Family History Library utilizing our own staff of missionary/volunteers. I will keep you all posted if and when this happens.
I am guessing this program will be expanded and continue even after the COVID-19 restrictions are eased (if that ever happens).
