Becoming familiar with the research facilities near you is really important. Many areas in the world have FamilySearch Centers, Libraries, Universities, Archives, Genealogy Centers, Registration Offices, Museums and so on. Find out what facilities are near you and what they have to offer.
I live near Brigham Young University, or BYU. They have a great Family History Library that I visit often. I can order any microfilm that is held at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City FOR FREE. I can order two films/fiche at a time. They arrive in about two weeks and stay at BYU forever. Once the films arrive I can order two more. They have plenty of films in their collection already as well as books, maps, family histories and more. The library is conveniently located for me and meets many of my research needs.
My most recent visit was on Tuesday night. I looked through four different films/fiche and found six records that I needed. I brought my darling 12 year old with me so we were able to order four more rolls of microfilm.
BYU isn’t the only facility I have nearby but it is my overall favorite.