Back in April, I received a message from my hometown library with the request, Help us tell the story of what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mill Valley. A light bulb turned on, my brain went into librarian/archivist mode, and I thought, we should do that here in Oaxaca. What better way to bring the Oaxaca Lending Library community, both here in Oaxaca and those currently scattered around the world, together and provide a venue to share thoughts and feelings, document daily life, and unleash creativity. And, when this nightmare is over, the OLL will have joined an international effort by public and academic libraries, archives, historical societies, and museums to preserve slices of life from this historic time for future community members and researchers to ponder.
Thus, we formed a small committee, met remotely, and issued our own call for submissions. Members and friends, be they here or there, have been asked to submit photographs, stories in prose or verse, and videos. The response has been beyond my wildest dreams and I invite you to view the most recent edition of Archiving the Pandemic in Oaxaca: How will this time be remembered? The contributions are revealing in a variety of happy, sad, challenging, generous, and talented ways.
July 30, 2020 – Calle de Adolfo Gurrión at 5 de mayo, Oaxaca de Juárez.
The project is ongoing; alas, the pandemic’s end is not in sight. However, my heart is lifted in seeing, reading, and sharing experiences with my Oaxaca Lending Library community and knowing we are part of an international effort to help shape the telling of a community story.
(ps) The QR codes on the image above link to the following articles exposing issues medical personnel are facing battling the virus in Oaxaca:
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
I wondered who thought of this. Fantastic idea. It forces us to make meaning from what seems senseless.
Yes, librarians and archivists of the world are amazing and creative in helping us preserve and make sense of our time and place!
Hi Shannon. You might want to consider uploading some of these street murals onto the Urban Art mapping archive site, https://covid19streetart.omeka.net/ which has over 1,000 entries from all over the world recording both street art/murals/graffiti depicting covid responses but also urban protests reflecting and responding to racial unrest around the world this summer.
Thanks, Suzy! I will look into it.
Great work Shannon!
Thanks, Ernie!
What a great idea! Went to the OLL site. Do you know Bliss Wilson? OMG, the best opening line of poetry I’ve read in a long time: “Lying in bed listening to my hair grow”. Fabulous. Was thinking of posting the short poem on my FB page but want her okay… Thanks for making a great idea happen! Leslie
Yes, I know Bliss and was blown away by that line!
Hello Shannon. I now have a laptop…here in Jalatlaco…and I am retrieving some of my favorite web sites. You are defintely bookmarked. Can you tell me the name of Christopher Stoyens blog? Thanks.
Congratulations on the laptop! Chris Stowens blog: Oaxaca The Year After http://oaxacanyear.blogspot.com/
Gracias!
De nada. 🙂