Announcing a local history initiative about COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unfolding global event with historic significance.  Years from now, people will want to make sense of what happened and understand how it affected ordinary folks.  Most of the first drafts of this history are being written exclusively in digital media: on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.  We at the Bolton Public Library and Bolton Historical Society are concerned that some of these memories and emotions will be lost over time if we don’t take intentional steps to preserve them.

During tumultuous times like these, we believe that there is value in reflecting and documenting our lived experience.  We are therefore inviting all Bolton residents to participate in a creative documentary initiative we’re calling

Living Our Lives During COVID-19

The basic idea of the initiative is to collect and store the creative output of our residents during this pandemic.  Beginning on July 6, 2020, we will be accepting submissions on an ongoing basis.  Throughout the summer, we will provide some prompts in case people feel stuck.  There is no correct submission, but here are just some ideas of what people could submit: artwork, prose, poetry, film, audio recording, photography, craftwork.

We are encouraging people to make hard copy donations so that we can have physical artifacts.  Also, this pandemic has revealed how important it is to be physically connected to one another, and we believe that physical submissions are a substitute (albeit imperfect) for the human connection we’re all missing.

Please mail your submissions to:  Bolton Public Library,  P.O. Box 188,  Bolton, MA  01740   ATTN: COVID-19 PROJECT

Include your name, address, contact Information, and anything else you'd like future historians or researchers to know about you.  Submissions to this effort are considered gifts to the Town of Bolton, without restriction, and as such are not returnable or negotiable.

If you item(s) is too big or bulky to be mailed, or if you have questions or comments about this project, please contact the Library Director, Kelly Collins, to discuss. That email address is kcollins@cwmars.org)

Please don't leave submissions in the library book return, which may result in damage.