The ALA Public Programs Office, in partnership with StoryCorps, is accepting applications from public libraries and library systems interested in hosting “StoryCorps @ your library” programs. Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to ALA, “StoryCorps @ your library” seeks to bring StoryCorps’ popular interview methods to libraries while developing a replicable model of oral history programming. Program guidelines and the online application are available at www.programminglibrarian.
In February, ten pilot sites will be selected to receive:
- A $2,500 stipend for project-related expenses;
- A toolkit of written and Web-based customizable program and promotional support materials;
- A StoryKit (a customized set of professional recording equipment) to use to record on-site interviews during the grant period and retain for future use after the close of the pilot project;
- A two-day in-person training by StoryCorps staff at the library site to orient volunteers and library staff to interview collection, digital recording techniques and archiving interviews in StoryCorps’ proprietary database.
Building on earlier planning work supported by IMLS, “StoryCorps @ your library,” will be piloted at 10 public libraries selected from across the country. Local libraries will retain copies of all interviews and preservation copies will also be deposited with the Library of Congress. For more information, visit www.