County Offers Cultural Services Online, Prepares for Library Curbside Pickup

Wyoming, ON - While Lambton County's cultural facilities remain closed to the community under provincial order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, online services continue to be offered, and preparations are underway to offer curbside pickup at libraries in the coming weeks.

Lambton County Library, Lambton Heritage Museum, Oil Museum of Canada, Lambton County Archives and Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery all offer a wide array of online services and resources to help keep residents of all ages engaged in culture, entertainment and education during this unprecedented time.

Library card holders can access digital books, movies, music, newspapers and more by visiting the library's website www.lclibrary.ca. The library's popular eBook platforms have experienced the highest number of unique users ever, with over 3,149 users checking out over 19,000 items during the month of April. Combined with other eServices like music, movies, TV shows, digital magazines and newspapers, Lambton County Library offers thousands of digital experiences and resources for patrons to access from the comfort of their own home.

For those looking to sharpen their skills, Lambton County Library offers free online learning and professional development courses. Library card holders can access leading online learning platforms like Lynda and Gale Courses, providing instructor-led tutorials that help users achieve personal and professional goals. In the month of April, there were 277 active Lynda users in Lambton County, and over 183 enrollments in Gale Courses by library patrons.

With the recent provincial announcement easing some restrictions, preparations are underway to begin offering curbside pickup of library materials at select library locations in the coming weeks. All library services have been suspended since March 16, when the current provincial closure order was put in place. Curbside pickup at libraries will represent an initial step in the gradual reactivation of services at cultural facilities, in alignment with the provincial framework for reopening Ontario.

"As a new service, there are some logistics that must be worked before we can offer curbside pickup to ensure we comply with public health guidance and occupational health and safety requirements," says Andrew Meyer, General Manager, Cultural Services. "The health and safety of our staff team and the community we serve remains our foremost concern as we gradually reactivate services". Further details regarding plans for curbside pickup at libraries will be released in the coming week.

For those looking to explore their artistic side from home, the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery (JNAAG) offers a series of free art-making videos available online at www.jnaag.ca. Every other week, a digital version of the popular JNAAG Family Sunday program is posted online, specially designed by local artists. This week, artists-at-home  can create with Sarnia-based artist Laura Manzano Arias, and participate in an all-ages Dada inspired multimedia activity delivered by Sarnia-based artist Stewart Fanning. Inspired by what you may have available around the house, these instructional videos have been designed to help guide residents down a path of creativity. Residents can also follow the JNAAG on Facebook or Instagram to vote for their favourite pieces from the permanent collection, which will inform an upcoming exhibition.

Residents are also encouraged to visit the Lambton Heritage Museum, Oil Museum of Canada and Lambton County Archives online at www.lambtonmuseums.ca, and through museum social media channels, to discover regular features on the people, places and events that have shaped the fascinating history of Lambton County. History buffs can search the online collections catalogue, and library card holders can also access Ancestry Library Edition for free until May 31, 2020 through the library website to research their family history. In April, Lambton County Library patrons submitted over 23,000 searches through Ancestry Library Edition. Those interested in preserving our local history are also invited to share their experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by contributing to the Lambton County Archives Collecting COVID-19 Stories project. Details can be found on the museum website.

For questions regarding cultural services, or assistance with accessing online services, please call 519-845-3324 ext. 5266 or email librarytechhelp@county-lambton.on.ca.

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Please contact:

Andrew Meyer
General Manager, Cultural Services Division
County of Lambton
Tel: 519-845-0809 ext. 5236
Cell: 519-381-9999
Email Andrew Meyer