Our world is fighting a battle with an invisible, and quite often deadly, enemy. Struggling to understand how best to cope with this threat, many people have turned to creative and imaginative ways to help conceptualize and document the impact of COVID-19 (Corona Virus) on their lives. Humanity finds ways to adapt to environmental and social circumstances everyday. Many have adjusted to wearing masks and social distancing, and regardless of political backgrounds, recognize that everyone has been affected by this global pandemic in one way or another. 

March 2020 was the beginning of the shutdown that closed the state of California, the nation, and the world. COVID-19 altered everyday lives and is continuing to affect global and local economies. With the death toll and infection numbers rising daily and the anticipation of a forthcoming vaccine growing, North County San Diegans (and more specifically California State University San Marcos students, faculty, and staff) have shared their firsthand experiences with the pandemic from stories of loved ones getting sick, to losing jobs, to photos of CSUSM graduates on parade, empty Southern California beaches, and closed businesses. 

Stories & Snapshots: Documenting a Year of the Pandemic is a snapshot of what was collected by the University Library over the course of nearly a year for the Together/Apart Archive. It focuses on the resiliency of our campus and surrounding community during these difficult times and takes a closer look at the daily challenges and celebrations through their artistic eyes.

Project Team:

Amanda Dalgleish has worked in the Library Technology Initiatives and Development as the Web Development & User Experience Specialist for five years. She has worked on such sites as Brewchives, Ecke, and our main library website. Before coming to CSUSM, she worked in the video game industry creating marketing materials for various video games.

April Siqueiros is an Instruction & Reference Librarian and is the interim Education Librarian. She studied art history at San Diego State University and library & information science with a concentration on user experience at Pratt Institute in New York City.

Ernest Mateo Cisneros is a Freshman at CSUSM pursuing a Social Sciences degree and a Special Collections Student Assistant.

Ian Chan is the Head of Library Technology Initiatives and Development [LTID] at CSUSM. LTID strives to provide online services and technology tools that promote student success. They accomplish this mission by supporting the work of the Library, Special Collections, and other campus partners.

Jamie Higgins has been a Communications Specialist at CSUSM since November 2019. She’s worked in marketing, development, and higher education for fifteen years. Jamie’s interests include fundraising for libraries, how academic libraries contribute to student success, and using storytelling and content marketing to increase library engagement.

Laura Nelson is a Library Services Specialist within the University Archives and Special Collections. She's been at CSUSM since 2013 and has a Masters in Library Science. 

Quincy Dash is a Senior at CSUSM pursuing a degree in business administration and a Special Collections Student Assistant.

Sean Visintainer has been the Head of Special Collections at CSUSM since March 2019. He’s worked in special collections librarianship for eleven years. His research interests include rapid-response collecting initiatives and collaborations within special collections librarianship. 

Toni Olivas, Engagement & Inclusion Librarian, is in her 15th year at CSUSM and has a doctorate in educational leadership and a masters in library science.