Lynn Turner has been named the new director of the FamilySearch Family History Library, FamilySearch announced Monday.
Turner has served as the assistant director for the last three years under the leadership of director David E. Rencher. Turner will replace Rencher, who will continue as FamilySearch’s Chief Genealogical Officer.
“You need somebody who understands family history and genealogy, and they need to be part of the genealogical profession because the genealogical world looks at the director as as one of them,” Rencher said. “Lynn fills that space but he also has an incredible business mind.”
Turner expressed gratitude for those who have helped him prepare for this new opportunity.
“I’m excited to stand on the shoulders of the giants that have come before me and paved the way,” he said.
Who was the previous Family History Library director?
Rencher has been serving as both the director of the Family History Library and FamilySearch’s Chief Genealogical Officer since the fall of 2018.
Rencher’s top focus as director of the Family History Library was to provide high quality customer service and help patrons to have a “heart-turning experience” as they discover and learn about their ancestors, he said.
Rencher and Turner also worked together in overseeing the latest upgrade to the Family History Library before it reopened in July 2021.
You can read more in FamilySearch’s announcement of the promotion at https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/lynn-turner-new-familysearch-family-history-library-director.