We are living through an unprecedented moment in our lifetime. Documenting the impact of this crisis on regular people, as it unfolds, is an important responsibility. This unique time is worth preserving to help us be better prepared for future emergencies and to help future generations understand what it is like for us being quarantined in 2020.

The Chester Library is collecting the thoughts, feelings and general impact of the COVID-19 Quarantine on Chester residents of all ages for a historical record of life in Chester, NJ circa April 2020. The collection will be made available to the public and will be retained for historical research.

We are asking those who live, work, or go to school in Chester to share a written memory of no more than 1500 words and/or a captioned photo and/or a short video (no more than five minutes) describing their personal experiences in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please keep the following questions in mind as you record your thoughts:

1. What has surprised you the most during this quarantine?
2. What is your biggest fear?
3. Have there been any positive impacts of this quarantine?
4. What is the most difficult part of the quarantine?
5. What are your hopes for the future when this quarantine is over and how have those hopes changed from before this quarantine began?

Please also let us know if you are willing to be contacted by the Chester Library after the quarantine is over.

All submissions* must be accompanied by your first and last name, age, and email or phone number so we can contact you about your submission if necessary. If you are the owner of or employed by a Chester business, please also provide your job title and place of employment. Submissions should be emailed to LocalHistory@chesterlib.org as an attachment or sent via USPS to Local History Dept., Chester Library, 250 West Main St., Chester, NJ 07930.

*Only send this work if in agreement that Chester Library has permission to share it with the public as part of the historical record and no benefit, financial or otherwise, is given or implied for the submitted material.