18 June 2020

The Reopening

The first few physical facilities used by genealogical researchers have started to reopen.

Claire Santry reports the GRO Research Room in Dublin reopens with restrictions, appointments only.

Library and National Archives of Quebec (BAnQ) announced the reopening of its 12 buildings across Quebec in the coming weeks including La Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal on 2 July.

The Manitoba Genealogical Society is reopening on 7 July, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on an appointment basis for 4 appointments each day.

Facilities in Ottawa and Toronto remain shuttered, and the BC Archives has announced it won't open until sometime in 2021.

If you have additional information please post a comment.

Personally, I'm in no hurry to see these facilities reopen until management is confident that procedures are in place for the safety of staff and clients. This Twitter stream shows the kind of problems than can be encountered if not handled properly.

I also hope the closure will provide additional motivation for management to enhance digitization. For Library and Archives Canada is that message being conveyed by members of the Services Consultation Group, even though it does not appear to have met in over a year, https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/about-us/Pages/services-consultation-group.aspx.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My Ottawa U. source tells me that they will have a pickup service for books,
(like grocery pickup I assume) Ottawa Public Library has this as I recall.
Anne St.