HomeMy Public PortalAboutLibrary to Document Watertown Residents' Response to COVID-19 Revised_202005070807243681WATERTOWN
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Media Contact: Jamie Kallestad
218-213-5302 jkallestad@watertown-ma.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Watertown, MA - 5/6/2020
DOCUMENTING WATERTOWN:
THE COVID-19
COLLECTIVE MEMORY
INITIATIVE
How has your life changed?
Share your story.
Library to Document Watertown Residents' Response to COVID-19
[WATERTOWN] Watertown residents have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in varied and
inspirational ways. As we support each other and our community during this unprecedented
time, the staff of the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) believe it is important to document
the experience.
Preserving local history is a core and vital function of libraries. WFPL is, therefore, establishing
the COVID-19 Collective Memory Initiative (watertownlib.org/memory) to collect and save the
experiences, thoughts, and writings of Watertown residents during this historic time. The goal
of this initiative is to provide future generations with primary source materials to understand
this moment in Watertown history, while strengthening our town's solidarity in the present.
In the coming weeks, WFPL will offer a series of programs to encourage storytelling and writing
about life during the pandemic. Here's how you can get involved:
WAT E RTOWN
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 218-213-5302 1 jkallestad@watertown-ma.gov
Media Contact: Jamie Kallestad
Write Your History: Coronavirus Diaries Writing Program [For Adults]
Mondays 5/11- 6/29 1 alternating 11 AM and 7 PM 1 via Zoom
Join us for a weekly series of virtual writing workshops to help you record your experiences of
this time in diary or journal form. Workshops will provide a safe space for participants to start
a journal, or workshop material already in progress. No writing experience necessary! WFPL
will collect these accounts and maintain them as part of our Local History Collection. For more
information, visit: watertownlib.org/diaries
Speak Your Truth: Watertown Coronavirus StoryCorps Project [For All Ages]
StoryCorps, as featured on NPR and supported by the Library of Congress, is the leading open
source archive for Oral History testimonials. The Watertown Free Public Library will be
conducting interviews of Watertown residents (via Zoom) about their COVID-19 pandemic
experiences to create a StoryCorps Oral History collection. We want to hear from you! Request
an interview: watertownlib.org/storycorps
My True Story: Writing Contest to Collect Teen Reflections of COVID-19 [For Grades 6-12]
WFPL is hosting a writing competition for teens that live or go to school in Watertown. Finalists
in both middle and high school categories will win Amazon gift cards and all submissions will
be made part of WFPL's local history collection. Learn more: watertownlib.org/mytruestory
Want to stay in the loop? WFPL's eNewsletter is the best way to learn about everything that the
Library has to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sign up at watertownlib.org/eNews
About WFPL: The Watertown Free Public Library provides access to a wide variety of popular
materials, resources, services, and programs that fulfill the informational, cultural and
recreational needs of Watertown and surrounding communities. WFPL works to create an
environment that attracts and welcomes users of all ages and abilities. watertownlib.org
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