{"id":102187,"date":"2025-03-12T11:03:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T15:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=102187"},"modified":"2025-03-12T11:03:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T15:03:48","slug":"some-final-thoughts-on-rootstech-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/some-final-thoughts-on-rootstech-2025.html","title":{"rendered":"Some Final Thoughts on RootsTech 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega \u2013 who has been to RootsTech many times in person and online \u2013 gives her final thoughts on RootsTech 2025. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The in-person RootsTech 2025 conference is over and what a conference it was! From the presentations to the live performances, to the new products and the giant tree swings, there was a lot to see and do. Here are my three takeaways from attending RootsTech this year.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: \u201cDiscover\u201d banner at RootsTech 2025. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everyone Can Learn Something New<\/strong><\/p>\n

I took some time to visit the GenealogyBank booth and talk to the staff. Conferences are excellent opportunities to learn more from the staff of products and services you use.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: the author, Gena, on the right with staff member Tashua Pouliot at the GenealogyBank booth at RootsTech 2025. Credit: Melony Young.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I asked the staff there about questions that attendees were asking. One of the most common was about what GenealogyBank offered. It\u2019s easy to think that GenealogyBank is just a digitized newspaper website \u2013 but we have much more to offer, including government publications, an obituary collection, the U.S. census, the Social Security Death Index, and historical books. Aside from reading past blog articles and watching our videos on YouTube<\/a>, I suggest you spend some time just exploring the various collections you can find on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: sign at the GenealogyBank booth at RootsTech 2025. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also learned a new way to search thanks to Melony Young, GenealogyBank\u2019s Director of Consumer Support. She gave a presentation at RootsTech on the topic of \u201cSolving Mysteries with GenealogyBank.\u201d<\/p>\n

She shared with me one mystery she solved about her mother-in-law by using the first name box in the search engine to search a keyword and then using the keyword box to search her mother-in-law\u2019s name. She knew that her mother-in-law had been in a beauty contest so she entered that beauty contest in the first name box \u201cMiss Wings\u201d and then her first name in the Keyword box (\u201cCharlene\u201d ) She reminded me that you are not restricted to only searching a name in the name boxes, and you can use the keyword box to add a name.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what I love about going to conferences and talking to the GenealogyBank staff; they have creative ways to search for historical newspaper articles.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s Not Enough Time to See and Do Everything<\/strong><\/p>\n

I mentioned in a previous RootsTech article<\/a> on the GenealogyBank blog the need to prioritize. There\u2019s so much to see and do that there\u2019s no way you can do it all. If you are planning on attending next year, make sure to prioritize those activities that can only be done at the event. These include performances, in-person only presentations, and talking with vendors in the Expo Hall. Three days seem like enough but there\u2019s some parts of the Expo Hall I never saw.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: a conference attendee coloring in the Discover board in the Expo Hall at RootsTech 2025. Credit: Gena Philibert-Ortega.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Start planning now if you want to go next year. Nearby hotels fill up fast. The FamilySearch Library is open for extended hours during the week but there are a lot of people taking advantage of that opportunity. Some of my friends arrived a few days early or stayed extra days just so they could get their research done.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Not Over: You Can Still Learn from RootsTech<\/strong><\/p>\n

You may feel like you missed out by not attending RootsTech \u2013 but the great thing about the conference is that you can still watch presentations that were recorded. In fact, the RootsTech Digital Library includes previous years\u2019 recordings. You can search the On-Demand Library<\/a> to find presentations on topics that will help your research.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot:
Screenshot: On-Demand Library. Credit: FamilySearch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not all presentations were recorded this year, but you can still find many that will be beneficial. The best part is that those recorded presentations include the handout.<\/p>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

Note on the header image:<\/em><\/strong> a past RootsTech genealogy conference. Credit: mormonnewsroom.org.<\/p>\n

Related Article:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n