{"id":4261,"date":"2012-06-01T00:01:49","date_gmt":"2012-06-01T04:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=4261"},"modified":"2012-05-25T18:47:36","modified_gmt":"2012-05-25T22:47:36","slug":"internology-the-care-and-feeding-of-storytime-interns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2012\/06\/internology-the-care-and-feeding-of-storytime-interns\/","title":{"rendered":"Internology: The Care and Feeding of Storytime Interns"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAttempt as many different things as possible, even if it\u2019s scary. Enjoy yourself and let loose!\u201d\u009d (Storytime Intern)<\/em><\/p>\n

Do you wish you could offer more outreach? Oak Park Public Library trains student interns to perform dynamic, interactive storytimes on the road. They present enriching programs to children in daycares, model storytelling techniques, and introduce new books to caregivers. We hire two interns for 10 weeks each season, and they spend two intensive weeks training under the guidance of a staff outreach coordinator. The interns observe our storytellers, and we provide them with constructive feedback. Our curriculum is based upon 4 building blocks: Core Storytime Skills, Book Selection, Stretchers, and Group Management.<\/p>\n

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Recent Storytime Interns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We hire the most enthusiastic people we can from area colleges and give them the confidence to have fun and put it all out there. As experienced storytellers, we sometimes forget what it\u2019s like to be new and we think some things are intuitive, when they\u2019re not. We start with how to hold and pan a book for a group and move on from there. We emphasize the importance of smiling, eye contact, volume, and pacing. We teach them to observe their audience\u2019s reactions and adapt with a flexible and positive attitude.<\/p>\n

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Silly Storytime in Action<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Good books are the most important foundation of any storytime. We train the interns about the differences between a toddler book and one for older preschoolers. We encourage them to emotionally respond to a book in order to make it successful. Intern partners read aloud to each other and offer support and feedback. They feel silly at first, and we tell them that\u2019s the point. The sillier, the louder, and the more over the top the better!<\/p>\n

Best Tips:<\/p>\n