Storytime Goes Digital - Guest Post

Today's guest post is from the ever fabulous
Abby Bussen of Muskego Public Library!

Let me start by saying this: I am NOT an expert on doing digital storytimes—I just livestreamed my very first one ever, so I am sure I will continue to evolve and learn as this becomes my weekly practice.

I chose to do a full storytime with a slightly modified format. I did this because my storytime kiddos know exactly what’s coming next and research proves that kids routines are beneficial for all kids. They’re also particularly important for our kiddos with developmental differences. This is an unprecedented situation, but I want my families to have something they can count on.

Here are some observations I made as I reflected on this experience.

1)      I realized in my trial run that if I used forward-facing camera, everything was mirror image, so pictures and words were all flipped. If you can (if you have another set of hands around), do the normal camera instead of forward-facing. I had EXTREME anxiety about not being able to see myself until I remembered that for the viewer, this experience was no different than normal. In short, it’s hard not to be self-conscious because We (as a society) are so used to being able to reshoot and review everything we create to perfect it before posting, but I’m here to tell you this: you’re great and you know it, so just go with it!

2)      I wanted to be far enough away from the camera to do my shape game and read and have everything in the shot, but in the future, I will move closer specifically when I’m reading the book(s). When I rewatched it (I shouldn’t have, btw, I was so critical of myself in the rewatch), it was a little hard to see the pictures. I’m glad I’m an animated reader, I think that’s what saved me in the greatest “not being able to see the pictures very clearly” debacle of my life. No one complained about it tho, so [shrug].

3)      I chose to do a format super similar to what I do on a normal basis instead of posting a clip of me reading. I did this to give our kiddos the familiarity of routine. I have considered doing just a reading on its own and posting that either on our page or on YouTube. If I do this, I will add in subtitles as an accessibility measure.

4)      Get ready to not be interrupted. Seriously, when was the last time you got through a whole storytime without interruption? Never. It’s a little awkward.

5)      I also thought, well maybe I shouldn’t clap and say good job after everything because who knows if they’re doing a good job. But then I remembered the kids whose parents have told me that if the parents don’t clap and say “Great job listening!” after every book they read at home, the kids get like legit MAD. It’s part of my routine, so I included it. I felt weird clapping in a room by myself, but to the kids watching, I’m clapping for them.

6)      Get ready to cry afterwards. I’m not kidding. When I saw pictures and videos of the kids I love following along…WOW. The community response has been SO WORTH my anxiety. I WAS SWEATING BUCKETS DURING AND AFTER THIS. Storytimes virtually, it turns out, are higher stress than in person for me :D

7)      I ordered a mic and tripod last week in anticipation of this possibility, but it’s not here yet, so this was all shot on my iPhone. I logged into our library’s Facebook page and went live and it went ok. If you don’t have high-tech gear, you’ll be ok. I promise.

8)      I spent a lot of the night before/morning of talking to my virtual hype person – another librarian whom I love deeply, who is doing her own first virtual storytime too, and who was also nervous about this new platform. You are going to do GREAT AT THIS! You are great at this every week in person! Your families love you and can’t wait to see you! Authors and illustrators are gonna watch you read their books and be like “Wow, that librarian is CRUSHING this. They are better at this than I am! I should have them read all my books to people all the time!” I mean, maybe they’ll be like that. They would be like that if they saw you reading their book. Just sayin’.

9)      IF YOU NEED A HYPE PERSON, I WILL BE THAT PERSON FOR YOU! Don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I will tell you all about how great you are and I won’t be lying.

10)   Overprepare. Just today I realized that I might need to stream storytimes as I work remote from home and I have no idea how long that could last. No one does. Tracy Jordan (30 Rock) said “Live every week like it’s shark week.” It doesn’t have a direct correlation, but I’m taking it this way: Leave work every day with everything you need to do your job from home for an indefinite period of time. 

My #1 crush, Lin-Manuel Miranda, wrote “History has its eyes on you.” I encourage you to take that phrase to heart. Journal. Blog. Take photos. Track your experience. History textbooks will write about this crisis and the first-hand experiences of all of us are valuable. If you have reflections from your own virtual storytimes, please comment below! 

Virtual Storytimes YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Online Storytime Creation Tools  11/18/20
• Flipgard, Fanfare and Friends: Celebrity Storytime  9/23/20
• ALSC Virtual Storytime Guide is Out!  6/11/20
• Getting Started with Virtual Storytimes  5/27/20
• “How to Do a Virtual Storytime” Webinars 4/13/20
• Tips on Doing Online Storytimes During COVID-19 Closures 3/16/20; updated 3/20/20
• Storytime Goes Digital 3/20/20
• Digital Storytimes- You Do You! 3/31/20
• Digital Storytime, Screen Time and Intentionality – Oh My 4/6/20
• Facebook Live Online Storytime Tips 3/24/20
• Fixing "My Book is Backwards in Online Storytime!" on iPhone 3/22/20

Permissions (Books, Authors and Music) YSS blog COVID-19 series:

• Many Children’s Books COVID-19 Publisher Permissions Extended  6/24/20
• Virtual Storytime – Tips on Fair Use & Kids’ Privacy 5/4/20
• Want Permission? Current Info on Publishers and Authors 3/22/20; updated 4/23/20
•       Music Permissions? Look No Further  3/27/20; updated 3/31/20