BCL’s Systemwide Storytime Training
Broward County Library, Fla.
Innovation Synopsis
In November 2019, Broward County Library launched a Systemwide Storytime Training to help staff develop and deliver quality early learning services for families and caregivers. This training was invaluable when in-person storytimes were canceled and staff were tasked with creating a varied portfolio of on-demand, recorded storytimes.
Challenge/Opportunity
Storytimes are popular programs at libraries, and BCL is no exception. But a storytime is only as good as its storyteller. To ensure that BCL staff were well trained in the telling of tales and understood the role of storytimes in promoting early literacy, a series of system-wide training sessions was launched for all BCL librarians. A secondary challenge emerged during the COVID-19 shutdowns, when many staff members were tasked to become YouTube storytellers at a moment’s notice.
Key Elements of Innovation
BCL’s Systemwide Storytime Training’s key element of innovation is its inclusive approach to training all BCL librarians, including supervisors and managers, as well as how prescient the program was in regards to preparing staff for the unexpected transition to all-virtual programming in March 2020. As a result of this training, staff learned best practices, increased their confidence and was able to create high-quality video storytimes when all BCL buildings closed to the public.
Achieved Outcomes
There were seven sessions of BCL’s Systemwide Storytime Training in November/December 2019, with a total of 240 librarians, library managers and supervisors completeing the training. Since March, BCL staff has created and posted 23 “Sunsational Storytime” videos in both English and Spanish, with the most watched receiving 2,800 views as of October 1. Additionally, BCL storytime programs were named “Best Infant/Toddler Enrichment Program” in Broward County in July 2020 by South Florida Family Life magazine.
