As New Yorkers grapple with the current global pandemic, this program looks at how organizations like Brooklyn Historical Society, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library/Queens College Library are working to document a historic moment in real time. All three institutions are actively soliciting materials that describe the lived experiences of New Yorkers during Covid-19, from oral history interviews, to photographs, journals, lesson plans and grocery lists. The program will have four parts: a discussion facilitated by BHS President and CEO Deborah Schwartz on the essential obligation of institutions like BHS, BPL, and QPL/QCL to preserve and document history; a presentation sharing highlights of materials BHS, BPL, and QPL/QCL have already added to their Covid-19 collections including audio, video, poems, and photographs; a brief discussion that guides the audience on how to think about what to contribute and shares specifics on how to do so for each institution; and a final Q&A where participants can ask presenters specific questions.
This program is intended for young adults, adults and seniors.
Culture Pass is a program for cardholding patrons of New York City’s public libraries, the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library. Support for Culture Pass is provided by The New York Community Trust, Charles H. Revson Foundation, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. To learn more, visit www.culturepass.nyc