Open Doors
Ohio Open Doors is September 11-20 this year, and this is 2020, so it is a virtual event! This program is sponsored by the Ohio History Connection, our state archives, and this year, Open Doors is celebrating “buildings and landmarks – their history, design and the stories they tell about Ohio and Ohioans!” We are all encouraged to visit outdoor facilities, take virtual tours via websites, and tour open facilities in a pandemic-safe manner.
The Open Doors website – https://www.ohiohistory.org/preserve/state-historic-preservation-office/ohio-open-doors – includes a schedule of activities during this period. Some are Live Stream events but most virtual tours are viewable at any time. Hiking and driving tours are also emphasized. This is a great opportunity to visit 50 of your favorite Ohio sites in one day if you are so motivated!
The Samuel Isaly Library at the Ohio Genealogical Society is open regular hours, 9 to 5, Tuesday through Saturday, as long as the case numbers in Ohio remain fairly level. We are not holding meetings or permitting groups to visit at this time. However, we are open for individual researchers and have been since May 12th. Wear a mask. Use hand sanitizer. Wipe off your computer keyboard, mouse, and table area when you are finished for the day. Maintain distance from other patrons as you use the facility.
For the Open Doors event, we are waiving the $5 admittance fee to our library. This will be extended from September 11th through October 31st to celebrate Family History Month. We still will charge patrons 20 cents per page for photocopies, and as a charitable institution, we always accept donations. No parties this year, but sometimes a simple day with the books, manuscripts and genealogical databases is a real treat.
Merriam-Webster defines ‘open door’ as “a recognized right of admittance, freedom of access, or a policy providing such freedom.” The door is open to all on equal terms. The term is a very popular non-profit name so must not be copyrighted. It has a religious connotation. It implies service to the community. It signifies that all our welcome.
We hope that OGS always has its doors open to you as a researcher via any method of communication. Open Doors fits in nicely with 2020, doesn’t it?
Tom Neel, OGS Library Director