DC Public Library's Archive This Moment DC project launched in March 2020 to collect and share stories of daily life during the first months of the quarantine period. Local creators helped build a collection of over 2,000 videos and photos between March and May 2020, sharing content through social media, email and the library’s website.

This project was developed by DC Public Library’s People’s Archive department, which aims to immerse patrons in D.C.’s history and culture through diverse perspectives, and documents local history dating back to the 18th century. The Archive This Moment DC collection was inspired by the library’s archival collections of images and documents from local residents such as Dr. Darrell C. Crain Jr. — who spent over 50 years photographing pivotal moments in the city’s history, such as the March on Washington.

From photos of children wearing masks to take-out food signs, Archive This Moment D.C.’s chronological collection shows the city’s evolution during the pandemic. Due to the popularity of the original project, the library is currently in the process of developing a collection of stories for 2021.

While Markham Public Library’s online exhibit, Life During a Pandemic: COVID-19 Stories, collects and shares stories from across a diverse range of media, it primarily spotlights the written testimony of community members. City residents submitted all writing contained in the collection and — to encourage all types of submissions — MPL noted that no experience was “too important” or “too boring” to preserve.

The online exhibit contains written accounts of how the pandemic has changed day-to-day life ranging from single paragraphs to short essays to poems. These stories are organized by categories, including groupings of stories from the perspectives of adolescents, childrens and parents. They illustrate a broad array of lived experiences — including children reminiscing on their lost pool days, adults struggling with in-person shopping and grandchildren surprising their grandparent with an outdoor birthday party.

Queens Public Library and Queens College, CUNY, have collaborated on a special COVID-19 focused project as part of their Queens Memory partnered initiative, which builds a sense of ownership and belonging among community members by archiving personal histories, images and other shared media. Queens Memory also provides materials to help guide community members in documenting their own oral history interviews, photographs and other records.

The Queens Memory COVID-19 Project demonstrates the resiliency and lived experiences of the Borough’s residents during the pandemic. To build this special online collection, the partners asked individuals to share stories by uploading photographs, audio and video recordings online using this submission form or by calling a toll-free phone number to record their oral histories. People anywhere can explore these stories by using an interactive map, featuring user-submitted digital video diaries, written reflections, graphic art, poetry, student work and more.