Ball State, Muncie libraries to document everyday life during COVID-19 pandemic

<p>Ball State's Libraries Archives and Special Collections, Everyday Life in Middletown project and Muncie Public Library are asking community members to document life during the COVID-19 pandemic. These organizations will collect and preserve these materials to be published in an online community archive. <strong>Brooke Kemp, DN</strong></p>

Ball State's Libraries Archives and Special Collections, Everyday Life in Middletown project and Muncie Public Library are asking community members to document life during the COVID-19 pandemic. These organizations will collect and preserve these materials to be published in an online community archive. Brooke Kemp, DN

In a collaborative effort, Ball State's Libraries Archives and Special Collections, Everyday Life in Middletown project, and Muncie Public Library are asking community members to document life during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Ball State press release.

The three organizations will collect and preserve materials from both the Ball State community and the surrounding geographic area, and they will collaborate to publish an online community archive of those materials, the press release states.

“Future historians will want to look back at the lived experiences of our communities to understand this challenging moment,” said Matthew Shaw, dean of University Libraries. “You can be a part of this history by writing, drawing, taking photographs, or interviewing a family member about life during this pandemic. Events continue to change day by day. They are specific to you and to your families, friends, and communities.”

Ways to contribute include:

  • Interested individuals can submit content to Ball State's Libraries Archives and Special Collections which will then be added to the Stoeckel Archive of Local History Collection. Those who wish to donate physical material or have additional questions should email Sarah Allison, head of archives user engagement.
  • The Everyday Life in Middletown project is an ongoing effort directed by Patrick Collier, chair of Ball State's department of English and professor of English, to document ordinary daily experiences. To become a diarist with the project, answer a questionnaire about the pandemic by signing up on the project website or read the directive. Contact the project for more information.
  • Muncie Public Library welcomes diaries and creations in either analog or digital form to help build this collection to be featured permanently within its local history collection on Biblioboard. People can submit digital content on its website or contact the library to submit non-digital content.

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