Our Orilliana Collection includes original materials related to the City of Orillia and the local townships. This collection does not circulate, but is available for viewing at the Library in our Local History Room.
Local History Room Hours
Our Spring 2025 hours are:
-Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.
-Thursdays: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
or by appointment
Please call the Information Services Desk at 705-325-2556 or email us for more information or to make an appointment.
Please Note: While we strive to provide staff during these appointed hours, we recommend that you call ahead to ensure the room is open during these times.
Materials in the Local History Room include:
- Books, diaries and manuscripts
- William Sword Frost Scrapbook
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Wartime Images - Champlain Committee Minutes
- Minutes
- Maps
- Photographs and other memorabilia
- Selected municipal documents
- Cemetery records
- Some census records
- City directories and local business information
In addition, the Library has an extensive collection of local newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1867. View our online index. (Please note: This is not a complete newspaper index.) Please call 705-325-2556 to reserve a microfilm reader. (Staff will provide instruction upon request.)
Ancestry Library Edition may also be used on our public computers. See our Ancestry User Guide (Remote access is not available.)
Another way for the Library to help you with your search for those missing ancestors is to join the Library's Genealogy Club. The Club meets the third Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. For more information call 705-325-2556 or email us.
Local History/Genealogical Assistance for non-residents
If you are not able to visit the Library in person and require research done on your behalf, you may fill out our Local History Research Request Form.
The fee schedule is as follows:
Basic Research Question: Research which involves less than 15 minutes of staff time and no more than three exact date look-ups (newspaper microfilm, cemetery records, etc.) - $10.00 (If your basic research request requires more than 15 minutes of staff time, please contact us for an estimate.)
Complex Research Question: Research for complex inquiries will be charged at a rate of $30 per hour with a $30 minimum.
Payment for research questions must be received, along with a completed Local History Research Request Form, before any research is conducted. We accept credit card payments through our Canada Helps account. (Please select "Local History Research Request" in the Fund field.)
Please ensure you do not make the donation anonymous or we will not be able to contact you regarding the request. Alternatively, you may pay by cheque or money order (payable to the Orillia Public Library) mailed to the following:
Local History Department
Orillia Public Library
36 Mississaga Street West
Orillia, ON
L3V 3A6
*Please note that payment of the non-refundable fee does not guarantee that we will be able to find the requested information in our sources.
Please call 705-325-2556 or email us for more information.
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