About

“to listen to the many stories of others in our community
enlarges our sense of the whole community sharing a common history
…these stories enliven and enrich our sense of community”
- Listening Project participant

How often does one get to ask a loved one, “What was the happiest moment of your life?” or “What are you most proud of?” or “How do you want to be remembered?” Occasions rarely arise for shared reflection in everyday life.  The Petersburg Public Library’s Listening Project is recording these meaningful conversations and ensuring that personal stories live on for generations to come in our community.

The crux of the Listening Project is that interviews are between two people who know and care about each other. They can be a mother and daughter, husband and wife, childhood friends or any other mutually caring relationship. It is also a conversation in which the participants choose what they want to talk about. A trained facilitator is present throughout the interview process to help guide participants and to record the conversation. Recording technology is kept simple and the questions focus on evoking a great conversation.

The Petersburg Listening Project is initiative of the Petersburg Public Library in partnership with KFSK public radio. The first phase of the project was funded by the Alaska State Library. The second phase of the project is being funded by the Alaska Community Foundation.  A life lived on the sea: The Petersburg Listening Project, Year 2 will record the stories of thirty more Petersburg residents. The third year of the project will focus on the stories of local tribal members and is supported in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

You can find out many details about the Listening Project, including what to expect, and some sample questions to inspire you by visiting http://www.psglib.org/listen.html. A detailed explanation of how we set up the project, some of the challenges we faced, and how to set up a similar project in your own community can be found at: http://www.psglib.org/listen/lp%20how%20to%20guide.pdf

For more information on the Listening Project call the Petersburg Public Library at 772-3349 or email us at library@ci.petersburg.ak.us

Here’s what people have to say about the Listening Project:

“Any time you record real stories from real people you leave a better perspective of how lives were lived”

“We’ve had lots of our friends in town telling us how much they liked hearing it on the radio”

“I love the project, it was a great experience”

“I think it offers a look at the people of our community that has never before been done. I think it is invaluable”

“I would definitely encourage anyone to participate in this very worthwhile project”

“It is very important to have these memories recorded for posterity – how we live, hardships, relationships, etc”

“[the Listening Project] tells the story and history of our town and is very relevant for the future planning of our community”

“It was fun for me to relate some event that my daughter had never heard about and much easier than trying to write about it”

“It is something I always meant to do and never did! I’m so grateful to have these stories down for my grandchildren”

“how wonderful that we can leave this little bit of history to our own kids, grandkids and the community…so many people are gone, that its wonderful you are finding people who still can remember the old days”

“it displays the diversity of Petersburg…[and] increased respect for others”

“[The Listening Project is] an important part of the town’s history and the people who live here now and in the future…it promotes respect for the past generations”

“I love listening to these stories on KFSK!”

“I think it helped my grandchildren understand how different my childhood was during the War and how they lived in this time…it should help people to see how different everyone is”