Living through History: Creating a Digital Heritage Collection

For librarians interested in community engagement, capturing local history, and collaborative programming models. A case study experience of a public library and community collaborating to create a visual record of life during the COVID-19 pandemic: “Pandemic Peace and Promise: a community photography project.” (available as a hardcover book and online at NOBLE Digital Heritage: https://digitalheritage.noblenet.org/reading/exhibits/show/pandemicpeace/ppppreface)Session Outcomes1) Experience one example of a community engagement program that stresses “participating in” versus “volunteering for”2) Provide a rough framework of the program for attendees use, modify, and customize. 3) Learn about the relationship between the library and its community through the lens of shared power (decentering the library). This is a shift from teaching to facilitating. 4) Understand the power of storytelling and giving voice to multiple truths