Storytime at the Library
Updated: Oct 2, 2019
Throughout the week, the Athens-Clarke County Library hosts Storytime, an event where library workers from the children's department read stories, sing songs, and play learning activities with children from the community. I've visited quite a few times over the past two weeks to meet these people and see what has been going on at the library!
Meet the Storytellers
Evan Bush (left), the head children's librarian at the ACC Library, reads, sings, and does activities with kids for Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County Library on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Bush has been working with the library for over 10 years, coming from a background of teaching school.
Keir Bridges (middle) reads to everyone during Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County library on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Today's Storytime leader was Keir Bridges, a children's librarian at the ACC library for 10 years. She started working at the library while in college and loved it so much that she stayed.
Erika Massie (right), a library assistant and storyteller, visits with Mr. Turtle during Storytime on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Massie has been working at the library for just over a year and working in the children's department since she started.
Meet the Faces of Storytime
Esther, 1, turns around to check on her grandmother during Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County library on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Esther's parents are out of town this week, so her grandmother and great-grandmother decided to bring her to Storytime at the library.
Leah and Finley hide and play with Keir Bridges after storytime at the Athens-Clarke County library on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Both Leah and Finley are very interactive during Storytime, often singing along and participating in the activities and games. At the end of this session of Storytime, Finley started to hide from Keir as she was finishing up and packing a few things. Leah joined her, and eventually Finley came around to explain that they were just hiding behind the blackboard.
Jasper takes a look around during Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County library on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. He was visiting Storytime with his friend William this morning.
Owen, 2, during Storytime on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Owen is a regular, coming to almost every Bedtime Storytime on Wednesday nights with his mom or dad. He's always happy and loves to smile and greet new people.
Sharon Jefferson, a childcare worker, dances and plays with the kids that she takes care of during Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County Library on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Jackson runs a childcare business and currently takes care of Kenya, Bren, Kyrie, and Kardea. Jefferson often helps out the storyteller by passing out activities and items when the time calls for it.
Bren, 2, shakes his sillies out during Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County library on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Bren is one of the children that Sharon Jefferson takes care of, alongside Kenya, Kyrie, and Kardea. "He's a little wild," Jefferson said.
Akil dances along and plays during bedtime stories at the Athens-Clarke County library on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Akil visits often with his mom and dad, enjoying the songs and dancing.
Gray and her sister Cherlie watch during Storytime at the Athens-Clarke County library on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. They both sat close to Evan during Storytime this morning. Whenever Gray would try to stand up and get too close, Cherlie would pull her back with a hug, taking good care of her sister.
Sanai practices signing "friend" in American Sign Language, high-fives Erika, and shows how an elephant's trunk moves during Bedtime Stories at the Athens-Clarke County Library on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. Sanai often comes to Bedtime Stories with her mom, Jasmine Forde. Forde is a professor of ecology at the University of Georgia.
William, 5, watches with his mother, Lucy Bush, as Storytime finishes up on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, in Athens, Georgia. "We've been coming since he was a baby," Bush said. "He couldn't even hardly sit up back then." He helped Erika pack up after Storytime along with the other children.
Scenes from Storytime
The link to this published work can be found here: