AHC Library Seeks Community Participation for COVID-19 Archive Project
JUNE 16, 2020 --The Allan Hancock College library is collecting materials related to the COVID-19 outbreak for a special historic archiving project and is asking for the members of the community to participate.
Library staff is asking area residents to submit their thoughts, experiences and memories of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent shelter-in-place order, as well as photos, videos, essays, journals, poems, audio recordings, and other archival documents and materials.
“Over the last few months, the AHC library staff have heard stories of the resiliency, struggles, Herculean efforts, ingenuity and heartache our students and community have experienced over the last three months,” said AHC Librarian Susannah Kopecky. “We knew this was one of those times that needed to be documented, remembered and preserved for the future.”
To preserve those experiences, the AHC library staff created an online form for students, staff, faculty and members of the community to share COVID-related memories and materials. The concept of documenting daily life in COVID-19 dovetails with the library's role in teaching information literacy. One of the central concepts in information literacy is the ability to recognize credible sources and to understand different types of credible sources, such as primary sources.
“Everyone is reacting and reflecting in their own way, and we would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing their reflections,” said Kopecky. “Years from now, people will wonder what life was like during the pandemic, and we would like to be able to provide that glimpse of life for the historic record.”
Hancock students, staff, and community members who want to participate in the project can do so by visiting bit.ly/achcovidarchiving and filling out the online form. Users will need a Google-associated email account to use the online form.
Since Hancock transitioned to remote classes in spring, the college’s library has continued to serve students via online chat services, virtual research consultations, e-book borrowing, Wi-Fi hotspot distribution and other important student services. Those services will continue as the college offers remote summer and fall classes. Learn more about the AHC library at www.hancockcollege.edu/library.
- AHC -
Photo Caption: The Allan Hancock College Library is seeking the public's help in gathering COVID-19- related materials for a special archiving project.
