What makes a story about libraries or librarianship worth telling? Many of us are guardians of stories, in one way or another, so you might think we would know what goes into telling a good one. Though perhaps it isn’t as straightforward as that.
This is a continuation of our exploration into the practice of storytelling and story-gathering.
Explore Create an Opening
This is a particularly rich time to find good examples of storytelling about libraries and librarianship. At the beginning of this month, The New York Times published an article drawn from interviews with librarians at the American Library Association conference this summer. The compelling documentary about book bans in American schools and public libraries, The Librarians, recently won an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.
With such excellent examples, it can feel a little intimidating to step out with your own library story. Will it measure up? Will it resonate? Will it spark criticism or negative attention?
I’ve not taken a storytelling course, nor do I consider myself to be a particularly good amateur storyteller. I am extremely detail-oriented and can get lost in background context and small things that may not be relevant to the point I’m trying to make.
I have, however, read books on storytelling as a marketing strategy and researched books and articles about storytelling in libraries. Some lean heavily on the hero’s journey, a framework prevalent in storytelling from a Western European tradition. Almost all emphasize the importance of stories, the act of telling them, and the power of sharing them. There are formulas and templates, tips and tricks, and plenty of encouragement to begin.
In my own journey toward becoming more comfortable with gathering and sharing stories, I’ve collected three guiding questions. They help me find the courage to begin and decide whether a story is worth telling.
What is the story?
What is the event, observation, or sequence of events that is begging to be told? What do you notice stirring in your mind? It’s okay if the story isn’t fully formed. It can change and become clearer as you move through the other questions.
Who is the audience?
Who are you trying to connect with through the story? What do you think will resonate with them? The best stories are relatable. They have a quality that helps us see ourselves in the story. They grab us and don’t let go.
Why this story?
What is its purpose? What is the point you’re trying to make? What idea, principle, vision, or action are you trying to spark? Stories can move us toward action. They can inspire us to take a stand, advocate, or imagine change.
Before sharing
Once a story begins to take shape there are two other considerations: Do you have or need permission to share? And when and where will you share your story?
Sometimes our stories may involve other people. If a person is identifiable in your story, regardless of whether they are explicitly named, it is always a good idea to let them know that you’d like to share a story that involves them. Give them the first opportunity to receive it, and be open to their feedback.
Then consider, what are the risks and rewards of different modes, venues, times, and settings for going public with your story? Sharing stories requires some degree of trust and safety. Those conditions are not always easy to find and certainly aren’t guaranteed. And yet, the potential power and impact of some stories motivate us to tell them even when we understand the risk and don’t feel entirely safe.
Sometimes courage looks like going public despite the risk. Sometimes it looks like beginning with a smaller, trusted audience.
This consideration is what inspired me to create a space this quarter for practice. Storytelling is a craft that can be learned and practiced. Because storytelling is social, it helps tremendously when the practice is communal. The more we practice telling our stories to one another, the more confident we can become in discerning how and when to tell them publicly.
Create an Opening
This week’s story prompt: A small moment that mattered
Think back over the past week or month. What happened in your library that might have looked ordinary from the outside, but mattered to someone involved?
Perhaps someone asked a question, found a resource, felt welcomed, solved a problem, or discovered that they were not alone.
What happened? What helped you recognize that the moment mattered?
As you consider what to record, you might ask yourself:
- What is the story?
- Who am I hoping to connect with?
- Why does this story matter?
You’re invited to practice telling your story within the Fosgail Community. Open Membership is free. Join us when a prompt brings a story to mind. Read what others notice. Respond as you are able.
Join the Fosgail Community
This is an invitation to practice, not a contest. A few honest sentences are enough.