A Suprising Genealogical Resource: The BYU Library Family History Center YouTube Channel

 https://www.youtube.com/@BYULibraryFamilyHistory/videos

Statistics:

• 21.7K subscribers
• 1,165 videos
• 1,979,015 views

We have been banking videos at the BYU Library Family History Center since 2014. Looking back at the oldest videos still on the YouTube channel is like walking back in the history of genealogy over the past 12 years. One interesting example is a video entitled "Enhancing Photos with Photoshop." The differences between the procedures outlined in that video and what is going on today with AI embedded tools in Photoshop are extraordinary. See https://youtu.be/l5-biqYDzbc?si=oJMdA5kp5_QTsFnS

Some of the videos reflect the digitizing equipment available free to patrons of the library. It is interesting to see the changes in the equipment over the years, even though one of the goals of having the digitizing equipment is to preserve the older formats. The most popular video was from nine years ago and has over 69,000 views. It is called "Using the Google Goldmine for Genealogy." Little did we know how much, how far Google would change in that nine years. 

 Of course, we are talking about genealogy videos, and many of the older videos are just as valuable today as they were when they were made. For example, doing research in places like Germany or England has not changed significantly over the years. There may be new online resources, and there may be some jurisdictional changes, but the basic process of doing the genealogy is only now becoming different. 

Genealogical research is hitting a major turning point as AI-driven handwriting recognition becomes standard. These advancements are tackling the most labor-intensive aspects of family history, expediting the search process well beyond simple transcription and opening doors that were previously closed to many researchers.

Here are some statistics for the Harold B. Lee Library:

The Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) at Brigham Young University is consistently ranked as one of the top university libraries in the United States. Below are the key statistics regarding its physical size, collections, and patron usage. 

Physical Size and Capacity

The library is a massive facility, largely expanded through a major underground addition completed in 2000

• Total Area: Approximately 689,000 square feet.

• Shelving: There are 98 miles of shelving for physical materials.

• Seating Capacity: The library can accommodate roughly 4,600 patrons at once, featuring a variety of spaces including group study rooms, a family-friendly study area, and specialized labs.

• Levels: It consists of 6 floors (levels 1 through 5, plus a basement/level 0).

Collections

The HBLL manages a vast array of both physical and digital resources.

• Total Items: Over 6 million items, including books, periodicals, and multimedia materials.

• Special Collections: The L. Tom Perry Special Collections library contains rare books, manuscripts, and archives, including one of the largest viola repositories in the world (the Primrose International Viola Archive).

• Digital Reach: The library provides access to tens of thousands of online journals and hundreds of databases. In 2014, it was recognized as one of the "25 Most Used Digital Libraries" in the country

Usage and Circulation

Despite the national trend toward digital-only research, the HBLL sees significant physical engagement.

• Daily Gate Count: Typically over 10,000 patrons per day, with peaks reaching 25,000 during the fall and winter semesters.

• Yearly Attendance: Over 3 million visitors annually.

• Circulation Trends: Recent data suggests that nearly 700,000 items are checked out each year. Notably, while physical book circulation saw a decline for many years, it has recently shown an upward trend as students return to physical media alongside digital resources.

• In-House Use: Beyond checkouts, the library serves as a central hub for high-volume data analysis and technical research, supported by its extensive computing labs and specialized help desks.