The winter season is a time for family gatherings, sharing memories, and passing down traditions. These all have a common thread that links them together: the passing down of stories. These stories are often centered around events, mementos, and traditions that link us to our past and keep them alive through sharing with others.

Working in RELIC, people stop by to share these stories and objects and their link to Prince William County, neighboring counties, or further afield. They come to us to help them expand on their personal stories for curiosity based on stories passed down to them from relatives or to create something to build upon for future generations so that they know who they are and where they come from.

RELIC has many resources, from knowledgeable staff, programming, historic site files, family files, photos, microfilm records, maps, and a large collection of books to research ancestry or the history of people, places, and things. Technology allows researchers to access genealogical websites for free, and RELIC's Digital Archives are available 24/7, consisting of historical records, vital records, photos, images, and maps. RELIC now has a way to further assist researchers with the new Preservation Lab, a free DIY digitization lab that allows patrons to preserve their memories stored in various formats.

In the coming year, we'll begin to take RELIC outside the library to connect people with exploring local history through outdoor programs and outreach to introduce RELIC and our services to our community.

The people of our community support RELIC because we respect their stories and the history of Prince William County and Virginia. We enjoy assisting people through traditional ways of researching through our extensive collection, in-person programs, and records, as well as utilizing technology, grants, and outreach to expand RELIC to continue our tradition of serving the community and connecting the past with the present for the sake of keeping local and state history alive for generations to come.

Wishing you Happy Holidays from RELIC!