Tellabration raise funds for hurricane-damaged libraries through stories

Florida — The Florida Public Library will sponsor its 6th Tellabration at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Seward Senior Center next to the library at 4 Cohen Circle in Florida. Tellabration is always held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and seeks to bring together storytellers and story lovers of all ages and experience to enjoy this ancient and enduring art form. Produced locally by the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild, which meets monthly at the library, the event is a worldwide benefit day of storytelling promoted by the National Storytelling Network. Visit www.tellabration.org to read more about the annual celebration and National Storytelling Week. Following the show, there will be a potluck dinner in the library, featuring treasured family recipes. The theme this year is “Telling Family Stories.” Every family has favorite stories, told and retold at family and holiday gatherings. Storytelling is a wonderful activity at any time of year, but is particularly appealing as the weather grows colder, holiday time approaches, and family memories of good times and hard times resurface and are shared across the generations. The stories should be five to seven minutes long, or possibly longer, on any subject for a general audience. Examples might be tales about a birth, a courtship, coming to America, an everyday hero in your family, the death of a loved one, a lucky escape from disaster, an amazing pet, a humorous incident or relative, or an eerie supernatural experience. Prospective storytellers are asked to sign up for Tellabration. Beginning storytellers or students who require help or advice in shaping their stories may ask for a coach from the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild. Tickets are $5 per person or $10 per family. For tickets or more information, call 651-7659. n Proceeds to benefit four libraries The event is a benefit for the four public libraries of Hancock County, Miss. The Pearlington and Waveland libraries were totally destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, while the Bay St. Louis and Kiln libraries suffered extensive damage. Hancock County is located on the Louisiana border, directly north of New Orleans. The Florida Public Library was matched with Hancock County through the American Library Association’s “Adopt a Library” effort. As in any disaster, Gulf Coast survivors are turning to their public libraries for information, and in many cases, internet access. The damage to these public libraries has created huge gaps in the county’s capacity to store, research and communicate vital information. More stories on library relief efforts can be found at www.ala.org/katrina.