Narrogin Library puts stories on YouTube

Narrogin library is taking reading online, releasing a series of YouTube videos to help the next generation of youngsters enjoy the thrills of reading.

Last year, with COVID-19 causing disruptions for many Australian students, a special arrangement was made that allowed libraries to make recordings of books previously protected under copyright.

It was an opportunity that Narrogin Library did not miss and with the deal recently renewed, the team has been busily preparing new stories to engage youth.

“Everyone has become involved, everyone is having a great time and we enjoy it as much, if not more than, the kids,” library services manager Kay Weaver said.

“All of our staff have done stories and it’s just brilliant to see the team so excited about something and we’re doing more all the time.”

She said that each member of the team had contributed something different to the project.

Some have brought their storytelling skills, while others have helped curate the spaces where the stories are told.

Others, like Tegan Winn, have honed their editing skills to give a richer experience for the kids.

“She’s got soundtracks and effects and things bouncing across the page and she’s having the best time,” Ms Weaver said.

“And we’ve now got little business cards with a QR code so if you scan the QR code, the stories all come up and you can skip the whole YouTube searching thing.”

But while the new initiative has been gaining traction, Ms Weaver said there was still a place for an old fashioned, real-life read.

“I think that an engaged experience with the person in the room reading the story to you is better than online but ... online is better than nothing,” she said.