On June 4, over 800 families and library lovers came to the South Carolina State Museum for the first annual Storyfest SC, South Carolina State Library's official kick off for the summer reading programs across the state. StoryFest SC is a new literacy event which introduces South Carolina's children to literature and story in a family fun setting. The event celebrated the 2011 Collaborative Summer Library Theme One World, Many Stories and the joy of reading with well-known award-winning authors, Chris Raschka and Alan Katz, along with South Carolina's acclaimed storyteller Brian McCreight, in a free event for families.
StoryFest SC shared the art of story to foster an excitement for reading with a day of multicultural crafts, storytelling by local librarians, face painting, the NiA group performing Reader's Theater, and author signings. Joining the fun was USC's mascot Cocky and ETV's SmartCat. Information about summer reading programs in every county across the state was also made available.
To encourage families to spend time together sharing books and activities, every child received a literacy bag with one book from each author which they could have signed, a State Library South Carolina Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar, and a bookmark about the online literacy calendar site, www.daybydaysc.org.
Comments from attendees:
"What a wonderful service you and your staff have provided to our community and children....teaching the importance of learning, books, and libraries."
"Thank you for the wonderful day and memories this event has given my daughters, grandchildren and I. I hope to come again for the 2nd annual Story Fest. "
For Talking Book Services patrons, the book New York is English, Chattanooga is Creek by Chris Raschka and Going, Going, Gone! And Other Silly Dilly Sports Songs by Alan Katz are now available. Contact the State Library's Talking Book Services Library for more information at 803-734-4611 or 800-922-7818 or visit http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/Talking-Book-Services/.
For more information about StoryFest SC, please contact Denise Lyons, Director of Library Development Services at 803-734-6061 or dlyons@statelibrary.sc.gov.
