A Family History (Genealogy) Open House will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The church is located at 9800 U.S. 15-501 South across from Pinecrest High School.

Admission is free and open to everyone.

Marva Kirk, a local member and the local public affairs media representative for the church says, "It is a warm special experience to feel the excitement of finding your ancestors and share exceptional stories of finding the records of your ancestors with others."

There will be three short classes and a tour of Family History Center.

Classes will show visitors how to use the Family History software, how to get a family history organized and traveling abroad for family history research.

The guests will have complimentary access to Ancestry.com,which it is a family history program that may be purchased for use at home.

The local Family History Library is furnished with numerous computers and linked with all the records available from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City is the world's largest genealogical research facility, and the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU), celebrates its 110th anniversary this year.

Wayne Metcalfe, field acquisitions director, says, "GSU is currently filming genealogical records in over 40 countries and adds four to six thousand rolls of microfilm or digital disks to the library's collection each month. Over the past century, GSU has acquired over 2.3 million rolls of microfilm from more than 110 countries and principalities. The result is the largest collection of genealogical data in the world."

The local Pinehurst Family History Library has been in operation for more than 16 years. The first and past director for more than 16 years was Wilda Stovall of Southern Pines, and the current director is Mary Scribner of Pinehurst. Both, along with many assistants, volunteer their time with no monetary compensation.

Normal hours for the public are Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

For information, contact Marva Kirk at 215-6278 or Brady Smith at 639-2832.