The Finley Room at the Downtown Branch of the Guernsey County Library holds volumes of information about the history of our area and our families. One of the familiar faces there is that of Lori Mitchell, who has been with the library for years. Lori is the head of the Finley Room/Local History & Genealogy.
In the Finley Room, you will find a great collection of resources including papers, microfilm and digital archives as well as objects and artifacts relevant to the history of Guernsey County. The department is staffed by library personnel at all times. There are two internet terminals dedicated to records searches. They have three microfilm and microfiche reader/printers and a photocopier. Cost for printed copies is ten cents per sheet.
A lot of online databases are available and records are being digitized each day. These include Ancestry, Microfilm resources like newspapers, court records, land, and naturalization, Cemetery records, School yearbooks, Military history, Photo albums, and more. But good old-fashioned research using historical books will never go away. Lori told me, “I try my best to find any answer. If no answer can be found, then I look for the contact information of the entity that could have the answer.” She always works hard to find the answer.
While Lori always enjoyed books because they create no boundaries to one’s imagination, she never planned on working in the library. She had actually planned on being a Pathologist. But life changes things. When Lori moved back to Cambridge in 1990, she and her daughter visited the library frequently enjoying the books and videos available.
Two years later, Lori began working at the library on a part-time basis in the AV Department. From 1992-2016, Lori worked hard at becoming part of the library world. This entailed working at anything she could to better herself. She did things like helping set up a system to circulate paperbacks, improving ways to help patrons notice and find books, processing magazines, providing breaks for the Finley Room, and enjoyed doing story times. In 2016 when Shirley Ford retired, Lori bid on the Finley Room position and received it.
Lori enjoys doing research and solving puzzles so this is the perfect place for her. If you have questions about an event in the area from long ago or perhaps a family member, Lori knows where to search. If you visit the Finley Room, she will bring information to the table for you to search. Or if you are not able to come in, Lori will do some searching herself and send you information by email. She loves what she does.
This is the place to find the history of Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How regarding events in our community, surrounding counties and state and also about our families. Finding information on family connections and ancestors is made easier by their resources on hand, databases, hard work, and a little bit of luck. You can email your requests for information to finley@gcdpl.org or call 740-432-5946.
Many people turn to the library to find a family obituary. The more information you can provide regarding the accurate name, date of death, and possible newspaper, the easier it will be to locate. They can be sent by email at no cost or there is a slight charge for mailing a paper copy.
As you can tell, the Finley Room is a source of a variety of information. Once you visit there, you will want to do more research on your family and all their local connections. Lori Mitchell enjoys helping you research and feels, “It’s an honor to serve this community.”
Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by AVC News
