July 28, 2026
We each have our own life story that we write each day. Each of us, too, is part of a family with its own compound story that spans generations. By offering the program Preserving Personal Archives in the Digital Age, Bloomfield Township Public Library will help community members safeguard their personal history and contribute to shared cultural memory.
During the program, participants will learn simple systems for long-term storage and discover how to conceptualize small-scale “living archives” using a hybrid approach that blends new technology with traditional archival practices. Through case studies in citizen archiving, they will also be introduced to practical ways to organize, preserve, and extend the life of photos, documents, and digital files.
The educational program will be presented by Cal LaFountain, a writer and researcher exploring cultural memory, archival storytelling, and emergent preservation technologies. It will take place at the Library on Thursday, August 13, at 7 p.m.
“Every individual’s story is an important and unique thread in the fabric of the community and our broader collective history,” said Laura J. Kraly, Head of the Library’s Adult and Teen Services Department, of which the Library’s Local History Collection is a part. “This program will help participants purposefully and meaningfully preserve their story in a living archive for future generations.”
Registration for the free, adult program is required and can be made online via the Library’s website. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Bloomfield Township Public Library.
Bloomfield Township Public Library is actively seeking donations of local history and personal archive materials for the Library’s Local History Collection. For more information about the Preserving Personal Archives in the Digital Age program or donating local history materials, contact the Library at (248) 642-5800.
