Most books are available for immediate use. A few books are kept in a storage area and can be retrieved by library attendants within three hours. Library books cannot be circulated to family history centers, but microfilm or microfiche copies of the books, if available, may be circulated. Most centers also have small collections of reference books. The library also has substantial collections for the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, continental Europe and Latin America.
Partial collections exist for China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia and several Pacific islands.
It is important for a researcher to identify what is already known about the family and the information sought through family Bibles, documents and local or regional genealogical associations. Typical tools include a pedigree chart, a family group record, personal and family history notes and a research log. A computer also can be used to record and store family history information. Many genealogical software programs are on the market today, including Personal Ancestral File, produced by the LDS Church. Staff personnel do not perform research, but rather assist facility users, suggest sources and answer basic questions.