When libraries closed to the public due to the coronavirus, many creative and innovative people stepped up to ensure that their patrons continued to receive the services and programming that they had come to rely. The OLC hosted a free webinar on Thursday, July 23 with four Ohio youth services professionals who used trial and error to conquer the challenge of providing virtual storytime programs to their communities. This webinar provided tips and tricks for creating online storytimes with ease.

View an archived version of this webinar.

[Run time: 1 hour 40 minutes]

Presenters:

Mr. George C. Morrison, MLIS is the Youth Services Librarian at the Delaware County District Library’s Main Library. He is dedicated to diverse materials and inclusive programming selections for his library. George presents professional development programs to school and public library staff across Ohio on the subjects of Reluctant Reader Strategies, Storytelling, and Vocal Manipulation.

Emily Sanders is the Children’s Services Coordinator at the Meigs County District Public Library (Pomery, Ohio). She manages the children’s department at all four branches of the library. She encourages children and their families to read and spend time together through the library’s collection and programs. She spends her time interacting with children both inside the library and during community visits. Emily plans and hosts summer reading programs, storytimes, seasonal programs, and more along with her Children’s Services assistant, and shapes the children’s collection.

Angie Sharkey is the Youth Services Manager at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Gahanna Branch. She has been doing storytimes and children’s programming in libraries in Central Ohio for almost 20 years. Her passions and talents are centered around programming for babies and toddlers.  She believes that storytimes are the gateway to lifelong readers and library users. She helped facilitate the Gahanna Story Trail by bringing together community teens to write and illustrate a unique story (updated each year) for display in Friendship Park.  Families can walk a trail, enjoy the story and participate in early literacy activities along the way.  

Natalie Walton is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Ada Public Library. She works in a small town of 5,500 people, providing special programs and activities for infants to young adults at the library. Natalie is a frequent presenter and her topics have included Gross Games Part I & Part II, Summer Reading Games for Tweens & Teens, Alien Dissection for Tweens, and Public Libraries-Public Schools Collaborations. Natalie is an active board member of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce representing the Ada Public Library, as well as community events.