Hi John Like you, I have only made a couple of visits to an LDS centre. I found it was manned by volunteers and, I think, asked for a (small) donation to use the facility. But then, we did not order anything in - there is certainly a charge for that, but again, quite small - a few dollars from memory. BUT - I have heard some centres are "better" than others and some volunteers "better" than others - by that I mean more helpful and knowledgeable. The same as every family history research centre I have been in, therefore. As to the physical arrangements - again it would vary. There is one in Melbourne that is I believe huge (I have not been there - about an hour's drive from me) and has stacks in - there is one not too far away from me in Australian terms that has quite a lot, but not a huge room - can cope with perhaps 8-10 people at a time - and a very close one (within a good walk) that although I could get the records there (probably by ordering) I have never heard of anyone using. A much smaller facility altogether, from the outside. Sort of like a little church overseen by a bigger centre, it appears. As to any talk of religion etc, I found none whatsoever and good help given me - which, as I knew little about what I was wanting then, had to be limited. There were fiche readers and film readers as I remember, and as there were two of us researching the same people (my second cousin and I) they were happy to give us a film each to look at, etc. A census as I remember - now, they are all on line, but not back in - what - 2003,4? At the centre I went to there were toilet facilities along the corridor but from memory, nowhere to get tea or coffee or anything. I suspect most centres all over the world will have the same variances as I have heard of here. Good luck Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: eng-cambridgeshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-cambridgeshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of john ffitch Sent: Thursday, 31 December 2009 11:05 PM To: eng-cambridgeshire@rootsweb.com Subject: [ENG-CAMS] LDS centres mama2see@aol.com remarked in the EAST/Guilden Morden discussion (btw not hyphenated) "Go to the nearest LDS family history library and order the film..." This has caused me to ask this question I have been meaning to ask for a long time. What would I expect to find if I were to visit the local LDS centre? Like, what are the physical and financial conditions? Does one have to make appointments and if so how long in advance? I realise this shows a great deal of ignorance. I did visit the LDS Building in Salt Lake City when I lived there but I did not know enough then to know what to look for. So far i have found the Cambridgeshire records on-line very helpful. ==John ffitch Interests in DISBREY, INGREY, DYE, and many others in Bassingbourn, Whaddon, Guilden Morden, Steeple Morden, Litlington, Croydon-cum-Clopton, Wimpole and Arrington ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-CAMBRIDGESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4734 (20100101) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4734 (20100101) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com