Archives

Archives play a crucial role in preserving the collective memory of a community. The Living Archives project joins in this essential work, preserving the stories of the pandemic in Mecklenburg County in perpetuity. The stories of our neighbors will be available and accessible in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room.

Transforming the stories to a fully digital medium ensures that these pandemic stories are both preserved and easily accessible to a wider audience. The digital platform transcends physical boundaries, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds and locations to engage with the community’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosting these stories within the library safeguards them for future generations and supports the Library mission to foster a sense of community and shared identity.

The digital archives serve as a timeless repository ensuring that the stories and lessons from the pandemic remain accessible and provide an opportunity for ongoing research, education, and reflection, ensuring that the impact of the pandemic is understood and available by generations to come.

Archives of the future must be built by and with individuals who look like the people whose stories are being told: Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous experts and community members.
Shaneé Willis

Director of Community Engagement, Digital Public Library of America

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