Hello,

Apologies for cross-posting, but I thought some on this listserv might be interested in hearing about contemporary collecting on COVID-19. If you'd like to hear more about contemporary collecting (across GLAM), I'd recommend joining the Contemporary Collecting listserv ([log in to unmask]). 

These discussions have come out of conversations on the slack channel which was set up to collaborate and facilitate collecting across institutions - if you're not a member, you can join following this link: https://join.slack.com/t/documentingcovid19/shared_invite/zt-dxv3f7w7-onokneSkl8nGUwljfm~cXw 



"Thank you to all who attended the catch up on COVID-19 contemporary collecting on Thursday 23 July, and shared insights and updates or simply listened in.

It was great to see such a good turn out and so much friendly sharing of knowledge. Over the course of an hour and forty minutes, we had 48 participants drop in and out, which is just great.

We didn’t manage to cover everything we’d hoped to in the session and left the final topic (Collecting methods and whose stories we collect) to pick up on in another meeting v soon.

Here is the recording of our meeting; please feel free to share: 
https://bluejeans.com/playback/s/qmOg5MC2cX9hA12vV3G4Xw6FqVyK32tHZC25cEyLhhsAQcWPBt1lYhcM8TMI4uli


Some interesting things that came up in discussion:

Ethics and sensitivity:
- Rosamund Lily West discussed ethics and sensitivities around collections and collecting relating to frontline workers, including the importance of embedding support mechanisms, due diligence and anticipating possible future uses (e.g. inquiries and whistleblowing). Need to carefully consider duty of care and anticipate what might come up rather than rushing into things and having to react.
- A discussion followed around anticipating future use of materials collected on COVID-19: how materials could be requested for use in a public inquiry, and how this could impact trust with donors / how we can ethically collect when this is a possibility. Sensitivity of topics discussed, e.g. whistleblowing around lack of PPE.
- BL OHS gave an update and are creating risk assessment guidance for returning to conducting oral history interviews in person, with COVID-19 precautions. These will be shared once completed.


Geographical collecting:
- Anna MacQuarrie (Museums and Galleries Edinburgh) discussed the challenges of acquiring materials in the present climate – and the labour-intensive nature of keeping in contact with donors to remind them to keep material safe to donate at later date
- Beatrice Behlen (Museum of London) shared info about their collecting work – with lots of examples including Ramadan in Lockdown project, work with Empathy Museum who are doing oral history, working with BCA re Black Lives Matter
- MoL Public call-out for materials was picked up by media and had a huge response – managing the practicalities of hundreds of emails and offers! 
- Elena shared a guide written for community groups about saving records and offering to local repositories, which will be circulated soon
- How do we connect with each other and share if we are offered something which is out of scope for our own institution’s collecting on COVID-19 but might be of relevance to others in the network?


Digital collecting
- Rachel Macgregor gave an update on digital collecting at the University of Warwick, highlighting that the ethical challenges of digital collecting are often greater than the technical challenges. Rachel also offered to talk more in depth about the technical elements – which the group was keen on exploring further.
- Trudy Zimmermann ran through Wellcome’s approach to collecting staff experiences, giving a demo of MS forms used for a staff call-out for lockdown and WFH experiences. Trudy also showed how she is using the chrome extension ‘Go Full Page’ for field collecting of Wellcome’s intranet – this allows you to take a full screen shot of an entire webpage.


Future topics for discussion:

Contemporary collecting COVID-19 catch up *PART TWO*
Tues 18th August, 1.30pm – 3ish

Focusing on…
Collecting methods and whose stories we collect:
- Public call outs for material and other alternative methods of collecting (e.g. oral history, field collecting, commissioning). Sam Jenkins will discuss collecting at the People's History Museum in Manchester.
- How to broaden searches for material beyond usual sources
- Intersectional, inclusive collecting and how to create more representative collections

Please email [log in to unmask] to confirm attendance and to let us know if there's anything in particular you'd like this session to cover. I will then send the meeting invite, although this is also shared as a link below.

The meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams video call, which you can join by following the link below:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDJjMjAwM2YtNTc4Zi00N2E3LWFjMmQtNzY4ODA3Njg4ZjBl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%223b7a675a-1fc8-4983-a100-cc52b7647737%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c64c89fb-7dfb-49e8-8b19-9fab8f2b3d52%22%7d

As last time, the session will be recorded for those unable to attend. If you have any objection to this, please feel free to contact me.



Virtual Show and Tell:

Bart Grob will be setting up a videocall session for virtual show and tells, showcasing the Contagious! Exhibition at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave (The Netherlands). Due to holidays etc, this is likely to take place after August. Please email Bart if you have something you’d like to show the group.


It’s so lovely to keep in touch with you all and support each other in these strange times. Please keep conversation going here and on the slack about how we can best support each other and stay in contact.


With best wishes,

Ellie Miles and Elena Carter

Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]

For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra