News from library authorities:
Warrington
Sensory Storytelling
As a librarian I am used to interactive storytelling, but using sensory stories is completely different to anything I have tackled before. Together with Alison Ellison and Rachel Ralston I have now successfully completed my Bagbooks training. These stories stimulate all the senses rather than concentrate on hearing and sight. We had really enjoyable sessions with the lovely staff and pupils from Foxwood Special School.
We all doubted our ability at first, but with the help of our trainer Susanna, we gained in confidence and skill. Alison explains it with great honesty;
'I have to say that I started this training with much trepidation, as I had been on a short, one day course previously and the story telling was very different to any that I had experienced in the past.
After completing my first couple of sessions I was convinced that I would not be able to continue. The trainer was excellent and closer to an actor than a story teller, acting being something that I knew I couldn't do.
But with the encouragement of Chris and Rachel I carried on. This, mixed with the obvious enjoyment of the Children from Foxwood School, meant I found that I was enjoying myself more and growing in confidence.
The whole thing was an experience and I am glad I persevered, I will carry this with me always as it has given me the opportunity to make a difference, I feel, in the lives of these special children.'
Rachel sums it all up;
'I have to admit that despite my initial reservations about some of the techniques I have to admit that getting a reaction from a child that you didn't expect and seeing the anticipation and enjoyment on their faces made it all worth it.'
We are setting up monthly sessions with Foxwood at Birchwood Library starting in November.
Bagbooks is a charity that produces the multi-sensory story boxes and trains storytellers. See here for more details:
For more information please contact: Chris Everett, Development Librarian - Youth Warrington
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.