Sometimes work as a librarian takes you down random research paths, where you can find little glimmers of intrigue. The Library of Congress has a project called Chronicling America, which provides freely accessible scanned images of newspapers from across the country. This is how I found myself reading headlines from The Norwich Bulletin from 1918.

This year is not the first time New London County has had to shutter up businesses and lock down public meeting places to prevent the spread of disease. An article from Sept. 27, 1918, provides a glimpse: “Drastic Orders Issued in New London.” The article then details safety measures familiar to us now put in place after the Spanish Influenza-related deaths of 24 people in the county.

We might look to this time to gain new perspective on our own difficulties coping with the changes in daily life and losses brought on by COVID-19.

To this end, the Mystic and Noank Library will be offering a digital program at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, titled “Connecticut and the Pandemic of 1918.” The lecture will be hosted by Walter Woodward, state historian and associate professor of history at UConn.

His talk will explore questions like, where did this new “Spanish Influenza” come from? How did it spread? How did the medical community, state, and local governments respond to the threat? And which social distancing measures were taken to protect people’s health?

There will be time for further questions at the end of his presentation.

You can register for the program online or by calling the library at (860) 536-7721.

With case numbers on the rise, we look to Ledge Light Health District’s recommendations to continue social distancing, wearing masks, and preventing further spread of disease as much as possible. Visit llhd.org for safety precautions, testing availability, case numbers, and more information about COVID-19.

Erik Caswell is the adult services librarian at Mystic and Noank Library.