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Your part: Choose up to three photos to contribute to the Library's collection!
Two Ways to Contribute:
📅 THURSDAY, 7/14 | 3 PM
WATERTOWN SENIOR CENTER
Bring your three photos to a digitization day. We’ll scan and return your photos, then add the digital images to our collection.
If you have time, you can complete our Registration Form and Contribution Forms ahead of time. Or, fill them out in person!
Don't forget, we're also documenting Watertown's recent history! Digital snapshots, Instagram pics, and flip phone photos can all help tell the story of your experience in Watertown. Send us your favorites.
Click the "upload" button to contribute up to three born-digital photographs to the Library's collection. Please note that you must be at least 13 years of age to contribute.
Collective Memory Project In the News
Host a Collection Event
We know we can’t get everyone from Watertown to contribute their photos in just one day, so we are running this project all year long. If your organization would like to host a digitization day, we can bring our scanners to your location. All we require from you is an outlet to plug in the equipment and a few volunteers. Contact Outreach Librarian Marissa Monteiro to let us know you’re interested in hosting: mmonteiro@watertown-ma.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of photos should I contribute?
Anything from local events to family memories to favorite places is worth saving! Choose photos that are unique and depict something, somewhere, or someone important to you.
Need some ideas? Here are a few questions to get you thinking about what photos you would like to share:
Still not sure? Share your favorite photo of yourself!
Why is there a limit to the number of photos I can digitize at a digitization day?
Every member of the Watertown community is invited to participate in the Watertown Collective Memory Project and contribute to the collection. That’s a lot of people! We ask that individuals bring no more than three photos to digitize so that we have room for contributions from as many people as possible in the collection.
Can my group or organization contribute photos to the Watertown Collective Memory Project?
The Watertown Collective Memory Project is an opportunity to share and preserve personal photos that document life in Watertown. This includes the people and activities of Watertown organizations.
Every single person in our community is encouraged to identify and share some of their own photos with the project. If your organization has people, then those people should contribute photos! The best way to ensure your organization is included in the project is to help your community contribute photos by hosting a digitization day and sharing the digital upload form.
We cannot include photos contributed on behalf of an organization, or specifically as a record of that organization, in the Watertown Collective Memory Project. However, groups and organizations are also important keepers of local and community history, and their records may have a place in the Watertown Free Public Library Local History Collection. While we cannot scan and return organizational records at this time, we encourage donations of physical materials. Visit the Local History Contribution Page to learn more!
The Watertown Collective Memory Project by the Watertown Free Public Library is brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.