As more businesses start to reopen to the public, the Lambton County Archives hopes some virtual options will remain in place for patrons.
Archivist and Supervisor Nicole Aszalos said a definitive date for reopening has not been set yet but when services are available for in-person use, she hopes virtual appointments will continue.
Lambton County Archives introduced virtual appointments in early May, which include two 15 minute meetings via video or telephone as well as one hour of research time.
"It has been very well received. I think it's a wonderful option to have, especially with us being closed to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Aszalos. "Lambton County has ties to all of the world if you think about our international drillers and families who have travelled even across counties, we're a big county ourselves. It just builds those connections and breaks down those barriers [for] patrons who may not be able to visit us in person."
During a virtual appointment, an archivist will help patrons by reviewing research and answering questions. Aszalos said property research has been a popular topic lately, which can tie into genealogy.
"With the land research that we do there are a lot of online resources that have become available in the past year and a half. They can be a bit finicky and tricky to navigate at first so we're sharing with patrons how to access these tools and get the most out of them," she said. "They can learn when their ancestors lived in Lambton County, when they sold their property or how the property had transferred hands."
Aszalos said various websites can be utilized during appointments such as AncestryLibrary, FamilySearch, and Onland.
Virtual appointments are $20 for members and $30 for non-members.
Meantime, Lambton County Archives will host an ancestry library virtual workshop on July 13 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. The workshop is free but preregistration is required.
The workshop will provide research tips on how to navigate Ancestry Library Edition, which can be accessed at home with a valid Lambton County library card until September 30.