COVID Time Capsule Collection and Reflection Week at Memorial Library May 3 – May 7, 2021

COVID-19 has affected us all in many ways. These shared and unique experiences should be preserved for research, reflection, and understanding how we are making it through these tough times.

The university is looking to preserve the history of the COVID-19 era on campus, both as a service to future scholarship and also as a time capsule that will be opened during the university’s bicentennial celebration in 2068. You can contribute to this important project by dropping off donations!

Potential items to donate may include:

  • Photographs
  • Projects and research related to COVID-19
  • Personal statements or recollections of this period (like diary/journal entries for example)
  • Physical artifacts, i.e., masks, posters, etc.

How and When to Donate:
You may drop off items in the Memorial Library building at the Help Center desk. This event will take place during the last week of classes (Monday 5/3 – Friday 5/7). Please note that Memorial Library is currently restricted to those with a valid Cortland ID card.

If you prefer to submit something digitally for consideration, please use this online form.

“Library Graffiti Board”
Upon arriving at Memorial Library, you may also write a message on the “Library Graffiti Board.” This is available when entering the building. The “Graffiti Board” allows you to express yourself through words or art reflecting on experiences at Cortland during COVID-19. These messages will be preserved and included in the Time Capsule project as well.

If you have questions on how/what you can contribute to the Time Capsule please contact the College Archives at Library.Archives@cortland.edu.

Curbside Pickup for Library Material

While the building is currently closed, SUNY Cortland’s Memorial Library is providing curbside service to assist the campus community to safely access materials. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to request materials in the Library’s physical collection and through Interlibrary Loan.

An appointment will be set for a socially distant pickup. Items processed through curbside pickup will be checked out to patrons when they are picked up. Items from the library’s physical collection that are not picked up within seven days of scheduled pickup will be returned, and the hold on these items will be cancelled.

Please see the guide for more information on requesting items.

Library Resources during COVID-19

Looking for Resources during COVID-19? Thinking about returning materials that you have borrowed from Memorial Library or through Interlibrary Loan?

Before you you do anything, check out our LibGuide – https://cortland.libguides.com/COVID-19

Here you can find information on Library Resources; Research Help; Archives; Teaching Materials Center; Testing Center; Digital New York Times, Wall Street Journal & Chronicle of Higher Education; Holds & Checked out Books; Interlibrary Loan Availability; Recommended Library Materials; Freely Available Videos; Temporarily Available Resources; and COVID-19.

Interlibrary Loan Update

Memorial Library is still processing article requests. Unfortunately, physical items are not loanable at this time. This process may take longer than usual as staff are working remotely so please be patient.

We are monitoring our ILL email, Interlibraryloan@cortland.edu so if you need to communicate with us, please do so by email rather than calling.

See our Library Resources during COVID-19 LibGuide (https://cortland.libguides.com/COVID-19) for further information.