Can You Help Create a Community Archive?
15th April 2020
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The impact that the Covid- 19 pandemic has had on all of our lives has been huge.

From the way we shop, work and the way we interact and communicate - we've all had to adjust and make the best of what is clearly a very bad situation.

For the first time ever - Barrow Library and Archive Centre had to close it's doors to the general public, but it hasn't stopped providing a valuable service to the community - from e-books to videos to fantastic craft ideas - there's always been something creative and positive to do.

Now, Cumbria Archive Service is looking for local people to dedicate some time (which, to be fair is something that most of us do have a fair supply of) in recording the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Cumbria for future generations.

You can help to create a community archive of Cumbrian pandemic related records, which will be catalogued, preserved and made available for research by doing the following:

  • Write about your experience of the pandemic: this may be about a single memory or event; in the form a diary over several days or weeks, or a creative piece (story or poem)
  • Take a photograph which shows how the pandemic has affected you or your community in Cumbria*
  • Produce an audio or video recording about your experiences
  • Collect leaflets/flyers/posters or similar digital content from local government, schools, local businesses, local voluntary or community organisations which provide information about closures, changes in operation, social distancing and efforts to help vulnerable people.

*Please note that when taking photographs that you have the consent of any person in the image or that they cannot be identified.

Material for deposit with Cumbria Archive Service should be written, printed, or digital.  All material should wholly or mostly relate to Cumbria for it to be accepted.

You can deposit your material with Cumbria Archive Service as follows:

Email digital files and content to barrow.archives@cumbria.gov.uk (the Barrow office will collect all this material for all the county during the lockdown period).

Post written and printed material to one of the Archive Centres, or hand these over to them when the Archive Centres have re-opened. It is important that you do not risk your own or anyone else's health whilst gathering this material.

Please follow Covid-19 advice issued by HM Government and Cumbria County Council.

For further information please contact Susan Benson at Barrow Archive Centre. Email: barrow.archives@cumbria.gov.uk

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