Plan Your Visit to the Church History Library
The Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah is open to the public. Please see the “Hours and Admissions” section below for more details.
There are many things to do when you visit the Church History Library. You can use our collections to research the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do family history work, or fulfill your Church responsibilities. You may also come for the exhibits and presentations we offer.
We want your visit to be as productive and enjoyable as possible. Please be aware that there are certain policies and guidelines to follow when visiting. If you will be using materials held in our secure storage, you will want to familiarize yourself with the reading room and access policies. We encourage first-time researchers to register online before arriving. Materials from the library’s collection are accessible in the library’s reading room on an appointment basis. We also encourage visitors from out of town to check parking options as well as attractions and events in the downtown Salt Lake City area.
General Information
The Church History Library is open to the public, and materials from the library’s collection are accessible in the library’s reading room on an appointment basis during the following hours:
Monday through Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
To request a reading room appointment, please contact us via our online Ask Us service.
The library will be closed in observance of the following holidays and events:
- General Conference—Saturday, October 5, 2024
- Thanksgiving—Thursday-Saturday, November 28-30, 2024
- Christmas Eve—Tuesday, December 24, 2024
- Christmas—Wednesday, December 25, 2024
- Day after Christmas—Thursday, December 26, 2024
- New Year’s Eve—Tuesday, December 31, 2024
- New Year’s Day—Wednesday, January 1, 2024
Library Address
15 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
The Church History Library is located north of the Church Office Building and east of the Conference Center. Paid public parking lots are available within half a block of the facility.
Street parking with pay stations is available throughout the city. Pay station parking hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., for a maximum of 2 hours, Monday through Friday. Saturdays are free, with a 2-hour maximum. Parking is also free on Sundays and holidays.
Free parking is available northeast of the Utah State Capitol building. You can take bus 500 from the capitol to the library for free.
Use of TRAX (light-rail) and buses in the downtown area is fare-free. Visit rideuta.com for more info.
For more information about parking in downtown Salt Lake City, please visit the Temple Square Parking web page.
Parking Map
Download PDF of parking map
The Church History Library offers several group presentations that highlight our collections and the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All presentations are free and last approximately 45-60 minutes, including an interactive question-and-answer session. These presentations are available Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
To see group presentations that are currently available and to make a reservation, please visit our Group Presentations page, which contains descriptions of the presentations we offer and links to our scheduling system.
For questions about group presentations, please contact us at librarypresentation@churchofjesuschrist.org.
Updates regarding the availability of these presentations in the future will be communicated on this page and via the Church History Library Facebook page.
General Information:
1-801-240-2745
Research Questions:
To submit a question to our team of historians and research librarians, or to schedule a time to visit the library to do archival research, please use the Church History Library’s Ask Us online service.
Mailing Address:
Church History Library
15 E. North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
Frequently Asked Questions
The Church History Library primarily collects records documenting the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of these records are valuable for researching ancestors who were members of the Church. For more information on what types of records can be useful in family history research, you may want to view our research guide, Latter-day Saint Family and Local History Sources. If you are looking for vital or public records or for information on ancestors who were not members of the Church, you should visit the Family History Library.
The Church History Library does not provide paper copies of patriarchal blessings. You can request electronic copies of your patriarchal blessing. For more information, visit our Patriarchal Blessings page.
The Church History Library does not have copies of ordinance certificates. These certificates are provided to the individual who received the ordinance, and they are not submitted to the library. To obtain a replacement copy, speak with your ward clerk.
If you are looking for a copy of your priesthood line of authority, then you should follow the instructions found at the Church’s online help center.
When doing research at the library, you can bring a laptop, USB drive, tablet, cell phone, and camera to use for note-taking purposes. For more information on approved devices, see our Reading Room Policy and Guidelines for Copying and Obtaining Digitized Material.
Before coming to the library, you should also know how to log in to your Church Account. If you do not have a Church Account, you can create one by going to ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Click on My Account and Ward, then select Sign In. You do not need to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to create an account.
We do not circulate materials outside the library because the Church History Library is a special collections library and archive. You are welcome to visit and view items in the building or explore digital content in the Church History Catalog. To learn more about our policies, visit our Policies and Guidelines page.
Most library materials are kept in our secure stacks, and it can take up to 15 minutes to retrieve these materials. Different formats, such as microfilm, can also take more time to view. You should keep this in mind as you plan your visit to ensure you have enough time to complete your research.
Take time to review the library policies and the library hours listed earlier on this page. Keep in mind that our reading room closes 15 minutes before the rest of the library.
We encourage you to register before coming to the library and to do some research using our online Church History Catalog prior to your visit. Many items can be viewed online, and you can identify materials of interest before arriving so your time in the library can be used to view items rather than locating them. If you have difficulty finding materials, library staff members are happy to help you in person or online using our Ask Us service.
Yes. We encourage you to search the online Church History Catalog prior to coming to the library. Many of our collections have been digitized and are available to view online from any location.
Some of our collections have restrictions regarding access. We encourage you to check the Church History Catalog before coming to the library to make sure that the items you would like to view are open to research. To learn more about access restrictions, view our Access Policy.
We also have many collections of digital records that are not available for immediate viewing. To view this content, you will need to use Ask Us to request access.
You can also use our Ask Us service if you are unsure whether a collection is available to view.
Much of the research process does require using a computer and other technology. While library staff members are available to assist you, they also need to be available to help other researchers, so if you are not comfortable using a computer, we suggest bringing a friend or helper with you whenever possible. This will greatly reduce your wait time while at the library and will make your visit more efficient.
We offer exhibit presentations that are great for families. If you have a small group, feel free to walk in and explore the Foundations of Faith exhibit. If you have a large group or would like to schedule a special presentation, it is best to schedule in advance so that we can plan for your group.