Rumours have circulated over recent months about a project to digitize the Family History Library collection of genealogy microfilms/microfiche in Salt Lake City. Now official details have been released about this project. The TRUTH is that the Church is planned to make available digital INDEXES of these films (rather than digitizing the film itself) , at least at this point in time. Advances in technology mean that the Church can do this much more rapidly than in the past although this project is still expected to take many years.

The role of Family History Centers is unlikely to change in the near future as even though the index will be digital, researchers will still need to order the microfilm/fiche into an FHC for viewing. However, this is a HUGE advance for family history research, and I for one am looking forward to the day these indexes start to become available.

For more information: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,605153189,00.html