StoryTubes & Creating Energy

A question came up at the end of my presentation at Batavia Public Library about using new technology and attracting customers to join libraries in that interactive experience. Denise Raleigh from Gail Borden Public Library just happened to be in the audience and she helped answer the question. It was such a great response, I asked her to do a TTW post.

How can we make sure video contests and the like actually are successful?

I can only answer for us. What we try to do is to make it easy for them to get involved. Storypalooza 2007 has grown into StoryTubes 2008. Along with Charlotte/Mecklenberg/Imaginon, Middle Country PL, King County PL and Pasadena PL, we are holding the national 2008 StoryTubes video contest at www.storytubes.info. It is about kids in grades 1-6 talking about their favorite books in a 2-minute or shorter video. There are creative, poignant and funny videos already entered and can be watched. What we learned from the 2007 contest is that these videos turn into a online book discussion with kids getting other kids interested in books. To make it easy for kids and parents to enter, we set up a camera in a room in Youth for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon and, with a parent sign off, we film and enter them.

StoryTubes will create reading energy. Watch some of the entries. For pure entertainment, don’t miss one young boy’s review of “The Essential Visual History of the World.” His side comments are a hoot especially as he explains that Napoleon got exiled twice saying “How much can a guy take?.” “A Light in the Attic” has a big wow factor. Another boy’s review of “Milkweed” makes him appreciate his own home. (By the way, I am not part of the finalist review process). I am just a storyteller about StoryTubes. Just think of the potential hugeness of reading energy that would generate if everyone that reads this blog from a public or school library helped just one young person enter.   Entries are due by April 26. If anyone has questions, please email me at draleigh@gailborden.info or call at 847.429.5981. Thanks Michael for inviting me to post and for creating enthusiasm about where libraries can go.