Oral history interview with Tom McMurdo

Oral history interview with Tom McMurdo

Tom McMurdo discusses the Vermont Department of Libraries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He speaks about the closure and subsequent reopening of state library offices in Barre, Vermont. He also explains how their services were provided to public libraries during the early days of the pandemic. While he touches on some more personal recollections, he primarily focuses on the information provided by the Department of Libraries to public libraries and how local libraries adapted to rapid and uncertain changes.

Tom McMurdo became the Assistant State Librarian of Information & Access at the Vermont Department of Libraries in 2017. He had previously served as their Collections & Digital Initiatives Librarian. At the time of this interview, his responsibilities included running the state's interlibrary loan service, providing access to online resources, collecting data for public libraries, and answering reference questions from public librarians.

Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.

2023-12-13

Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project

AudioFileCOVID-043

MP3

WAV

Audio file

Permission to publish material from the Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project may be obtained from the Vermont Historical Society.

Gustin, Amanda Kay

McMurdo, Tom

48 min., 25 sec.

Vermont Historical Society Library, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641-4215