Libraries prepare for story time – Australia-wide
The Cassowary Coast’s littlest bookworms will be curled up in council libraries at 11 a.m. tomorrow (May 26), participating in Australia’s biggest annual storytelling session during National Library and Information Week (25-31 May).
Last year, more than 110,000 children at over 830 locations around Australia took part in National Simultaneous Story Time, when storytellers nationwide launch into the same children’s story at exactly the same time.
“We always tell a story by an Australian author,” said CCRC Library Services Coordinator, Alexis Adams. “This year, ‘Pete the Sheep’ will be the star of story time.”
Staff at the council library branches in Innisfail, Tully, Cardwell and Wongaling Beach anticipate healthy audience numbers in the pre-school age group.
Tully assistant librarian, Maxine Marsh, is expecting the regulars who attend her monthly story-telling sessions, as well as 40 children from the Tully Kindergarten, 20 parents – and one lamb.
“The son of one of our staff, who works on a nearby property, is bringing along a lamb,” Ms Marsh said. “I think I may have to remove the new lamb cookery book which I had on display …”
Children who cannot attend National Simultaneous Story Time need not despair. All four council libraries hold monthly story time sessions for budding bookworms.
“Reading is a very important skill to have. The younger that children start, the better,” Ms Adams emphasised.
| Library Story Time Sessions | |
|---|---|
| Tully library | 3rd Tuesday of the month 10.15 a.m. – 10.45 a.m. |
| Cardwell library | 3rd Wednesday of the month 10.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. |
| Wongaling library | 2nd Tuesday of the month 9.15 a.m. – 9.45 a.m. |
The Innisfail library is currently seeking a story teller. “We are looking for a bookworm who enjoys entertaining small children and is prepared to devote half an hour a month to telling stories in the library,” Ms Adams said.
The successful nominee must be prepared for instant fame. “You will be accosted everywhere by little people who know you,” Ms Adams warned.
For further information about library activities, or to nominate for the position of storyteller, please contact Alexis Adams on 4030 2245.