Storytime Protest Kit

Many librarians are drawn to the profession by the opportunity to be of service to our community. We spend our days connecting people to the information they need, supporting early literacy, helping people look for jobs and health information, and so much more. As a caring profession we often also find ourselves in the streets protesting with our neighbors. One thing we can do is bring our skills into the streets with us, just like we did at the Families Together March on June 30th 2018.

Please see below for a brochure version of our Storytime Protest Kit, adapted to work for a variety of issues, with logistics supplies and starter book lists.

We’ll see you out there! Download Storytime Protest Kit

Protest Storytime Kit

Purpose

Protests can be about sharing information, expressing your values, and being heard. As librarians, we know that storytime can be subversive, storytime can be protest, and storytime can be a way of talking about issues in an age appropriate way. Holding a storytime at a rally can be a great way to keep kids occupied and learning during the waiting periods.

Please join us and bring storytime to your local protest.

Supplies

Lightweight blanket (more if possible 1 blanket = about five kids)
8-12 picture books (see lists for suggestions)
Posters and protest signs
Enthusiasm & a Loud Storytelling voice
Sunscreen

Logistics

Meet at a set point
Travel together to march start (if a march, if the rally is in a set location, try to arrive together to avoid having to hunt each other down, we find meeting at a less heavily trafficked location 45 minutes before works well)
Have your talking points ready (see below) Why are you there? What are you reading? Why these books?
Please let us know you went, and send us photos and the location.

Talking Points

Every child has a right to storytime
Every child has a right to have access to a librarian
Normal life is love, learning, creativity, and stability. For librarians and teachers all of this comes out in storytime
Write one of your own about why you are at that particular event