FORWARDED WITH PERMISSION....Nelda == == == == == Excerpts from the LDS Church News, Jan 20th, 2001 " Beginning in February, a massive new stream of uploads to the site will bring the total of online names to 1 billion, expected by the end of the year. Included in these uploads will be 2.2 million records of Middle America-Mexico, the Sweden records of the Scandinavian Vital Records Index with 1.1 million names, the Social Security Death Index with 64 million names and, most significantly, an update of the Church's International Genealogical Index, with an addition of 125 million names. Vital records from other regions will follow. Uploads such as these will be ongoing throughout the year, and patrons should check frequently to see if information they need has been added recently." and more... "He said the Family History Library, the Church's primary repository, has more than 2.16 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records, 173,795 sets of microfiche (representing several hundred thousand individual fiche), 288,000 books, 14,000 serials and 8,000 maps. The Field Services and Support Division adds to this collection by operating up to 300 cameras in nearly 50 countries, capturing some 75 to 80 million images a year. Brother Turley said, "We also have about 30,000 volunteers around the world who serve as extractors, helping us to index these records." and... ""At present, there are more than 3,500 Family History Centers operating in 75 countries or territories around the world. We have been adding these centers across the globe at the rate of about 200 per year. Seventy thousand rolls of microfilm are circulated to Family History Centers each month." The Church's family history site continues to be attractive to users. The free site. . . is approaching 5 billion hits." - Nelda, IBSSG @ @ ^ Go look at my website with over 6000 names at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/8731 List manager @ rootsweb.com for: BEATTIE, BEATTY, BONSTEIN, GILLOCK, GILPIN, TN-MEMORIES and ourancestors@egroups.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com