Storytime Made Easier

Have you ever wanted to host a storytime but did not know where to start in the planning process? Has your supervisor said you need to be able to host a storytime as a backup and you've never done it before? Are you a librarian with a lot of storytime experience but want to freshen your storytime up? This is the program for you! Program attendees will learn an arsenal of tips and tools to help make storytime planning more efficient and easier. Library staff new to storytime will be able to learn how to plan a storytime with multiple components, ranging from math related literacy tips to fingerplays, a powerpoint presentation that has it all integrated and ready to go no matter where you’re presenting a storytime. Veteran library staff will learn additional tools and resources to freshen up their storytimes. 

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn new tools and tips to help make storytime planning more efficient and easier 
• Presenters will focus on different storytime components that attendees can pick and choose to integrate into their own storytime 
• Attendees will leave feeling more empowered and able to host a storytime of their own.
  

Presenters:

Amy Morris is a Birth-8 Librarian at Pima County Public Library, where she has worked for twelve years. She spent nine years in young adult services, then became one of the system’s first tween librarians before moving into children’s services. During the pandemic, she launched innovative partnerships, including “Nature to Go” kits with Parks and Recreation and miniature fairy kits with the Mini Time Museum. A co-chair of the Tucson Festival of Books Teen and Tween Audio Interviews for four years, Amy thrives on building community and educational partnerships. She has served on multiple affinity teams, including Welcome to America, Birth to 8, and Disability Services. Amy earned her MLIS from San Jose State University while working full-time and leading the Dwarf Athletic Association of America. Certified in elementary education, with a background in supporting struggling readers and math learners, she is passionate about helping children discover their “book joy.”

Meg Beer has 15 years’ experience as a Children's Librarian with Pima County Public Library.  Storytime was her favorite part of the job.  At one time she led four Storytimes a week plus a monthly family Storytime.  She has presented numerous workshops on early literacy and early math around the state for librarians, HeadStart and preschool teachers, and caretakers. Currently, she's working with TREC (Tucson Regional Educator Collaborative) facilitating training in early math and early science for preschool teachers in Arizona.   She enjoys volunteering with Reading Seed, supports a school library, and is doing her best to read her way through the library's collection!

Kylie Naig is a children's librarian with the Pima County Public Library system. She joined PCPL in 2017 after receiving her MLIS degree from the University of Arizona. Kylie has experience with baby, toddler, preschool, and family storytimes, as well as children's programming and outreach.