Storytelling vs. Story Sharing and Copyright vs. Creative Commons

As a still newish member of the National Storytelling Network (NSN), I'm viewing my librarian story sharing in a different light. I'm considering the art of storytelling (with the attention on oral aspects and audience feedback) removed from the science of early literacy and removed from story sharing techniques that rely on the book as a prop.  I'm also understanding the prevelance of sharing personal stories or folktales.  Why?  Copyright issues.

What if a storytelling artist wants to share a story that is originally from a picturebook (the oral, performing artist wants to bring a story to a different audience through a different sense) and the original writer is not a performance artist?  (Some writers, such as Patricia Polacco, Charles R. Smith Jr. and Chris Raschka, can perform their story as well as produce a physical form!)  The retelling artist must seek permission, of course.

Following the suggestion of my listserv friends from NSN, I did email Paul Owen Lewis in hopes that he would let me retell his Frog Girl, a perfect family story whose theme fits "One World, Many Stories."  Today, I have gotten his permission to retell it for not-for-profit settings!

On a related note, I'm exploring the idea of Creative Commons http://creativecommons.org/ licenses.  Anyone have thoughts and experiences with this?

What Is Storytelling?

As I prepare for my presentation, I've discovered some great quotes about storytelling:

"Storytellers conserve elements of the past while incorporating the effects of their relationship to the text, their relationship to the listeners, and the dynamics of the event itself."
Carol L. Birch in The Whole Story Handbook (14)

" ... the oral tradition recognizes community authorship, fluidity, and spontaneity."
Carol L. Birch in The Whole Story Handbook (14)

"Shared stories become shared reference points, drawing people into more meaningful associations."
Carol L. Birch in The Whole Story Handbook (13)

"When you tell a story, you tell it to all creation. It's cosmic. It never goes away."
Brother Blue (Hugh Morgan Hill)

Storytelling connects the past, present, and future. It connects and effects the teller, the community, and the world.

November Is New

This is a busy first week for a new month ...

This week's activities:

1. I have started my part-time position.

2. I have filled out paperwork to see if I am eligible for partial unemployment.

3. I have programs every day, up to 4 in one day!

4. I have started outreach programs from the Austintown branch.

5. The individuals selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar will be contacted.

6. I will give a presentation on storytelling techniques and focus on kinds of stories for the preschool audience.

7. I need to think about the trips I want to take in 2010 and request the appropriate days off.


Thoughts on these activities:

1. Part-time for a short term may be a gift, but it is intimidating for the long term.

2. Check. (double entendre?)

3. Now that the week has started, I feel fine with this load. I am prepared. A fellow children's librarian's wisdom echoes in my head and reminds me that the librarian herself needs to have fun ...

4. Outreach went well today. I am becoming a better communicator but still have room to grow.

5. *fingers crossed*

6. Preparing for Friday's presentation is also preparing me for my potential presentation in March concerning learning (science) through storytelling. Not only have I found other resources that are passionate about this same idea, it has also given me the opportunity to re-discover the art of storytelling and set higher goals for myself.

[Hooray for an early birthday gift from mother ... membership in the National Storytelling Network!]

7. Now that I am on an ALSC Committee, I will need to attend Mid-Winter and Annual. I won't know if I will be able to do the OCTELA presentation until January ... On a personal note, I need to visit my relatives in Finland with my mother while she can still connect me to them.