I recently had a chance to interview David Rencher, Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch. Roots Television videotaped our conversation and it is now available online.
In this video, David describes the responsibilities of the new position. He also talks at some length about FamilySearch.org, the web site sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That genealogy web site receives millions of "hits" per day and contains millions of records. All information on that web site is available free of charge. David is responsible for guiding much of FamilySearch's planning and coordination efforts.
David also talked about several other projects underway, including a massive effort by volunteers to index millions of records of genealogical interest.
What fascinated me about this interview was David's comment of "Microfilm is a dying technology and most people don't know it." He then went on to explain why the Church is being forced to abandon microfilm as a distribution method and he described what is being used in its place. The bottom line is a much better service for all genealogists: the ability to view and save copies of original documents in your own home.
To watch this interview right now, go to http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_conferences3.php?bcpid=6933799001&bclid=27965007001&bctid=28901999001 or click on the image below.
Great interview!! The only problem is, it makes me worry about my age. At 76 am I going to live long enough to have all this available to me . I remember my amazement at the banks of microfilm files at the FHL the first time I visited Salt Lake City, and the thought of having all this available to me online is awesome.
Posted by: Hal Whitmore | July 14, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Hal and Dave have a nice site for Whitmore researchers. AND they have incorporated DNA links into their interfaces. May you live another 20 years, Hal!
Happy Dae·
http://ShoeStringGenealogy.com
Posted by: Dae Powell | July 15, 2009 at 09:43 AM