Category Archives: Training and Mentoring

Essential Elements of Storytime: Knowing Your Material

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Melissa

All professions have tools, and one mark of expertise is knowing how to choose the best tools for the job, and knowing how to use them well. For storytime providers, our tools include the books, songs, rhymes, and activities that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 4 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime: Embracing the Performance

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Melissa

Storytime is a different library service than reference work, reader’s advisory, or circulation assistance in that it is not a one-to-one transaction. It is a performance, a show, not a conversation. To present the best storytimes, I believe we need … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 19 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime: Loving Storytime

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Melissa

This is the first in a short series of posts about my personal list of essential storytime components! Essential Elements of Storytime: Loving Storytime I believe storytimes are pretty much like any other endeavor, in that we don’t do our … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 4 Comments

Essential Elements of Storytime

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Melissa

I’ve been giving storytimes regularly since 1996, and have been in a training and mentoring role for storytimes at my library for the past several years. The more time I spend thinking and learning and talking about storytime, the more … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 2 Comments

Tips for Delivering Early Literacy Messages

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Melissa

A reader recently asked this question: “I love the idea of including early literacy tips in my storytimes but I feel a little preachy when I do. Any suggestions (from anyone) on how to do this?” (Great question, Laura, thank … Continue reading →

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Posted in Early Literacy Storytime, Training and Mentoring | 7 Comments

Advice for New Storytime Providers

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Melissa

…from those who aren’t so new at it. Last week we taught one of our regular “storytime basics” classes to staff at my library who are preparing to do storytimes for the first time. The day before the class, I … Continue reading →

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Posted in Storytime & Programs, Training and Mentoring | 9 Comments

Curiosity Challenge

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Melissa

It’s getting to be the end of the year, and I have to wrap up my monthly reports at work and write about the projects I’ve completed and the things I’ve learned, and of course what I’d rather do is … Continue reading →

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Posted in Training and Mentoring | 4 Comments

Extended Play Storytime Post: Transitions

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Melissa

Here’s something I’ve been meaning to do since LAST fall’s Shapes storytime: write out a storytime post that includes everything I say in between all the books and activities. How do you get from one thing to the next? Today’s … Continue reading →

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Posted in My Baby Storytime, Training and Mentoring | 12 Comments

What Not To Do?

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Melissa

So I am having such a good time with this conversation about Best Practices in storytime! Thanks to everyone who has added their two cents, either online or in person. I have so much to ponder! I feel like Pooh … Continue reading →

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Posted in Storytime & Programs, Training and Mentoring | 29 Comments

Best Practices and Personal Style

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Melissa

OK, this extremely goofy picture is of me in the middle of baby storytime last year. My brother-in-law posted it on Facebook with the caption, “This is what my son’s therapists call ‘high-affect’.” So I said back, “But Max had … Continue reading →

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Posted in Storytime & Programs, Training and Mentoring | 22 Comments