CHILDREN'S librarian Julie Bull knows her new singing and storytimes online are not always super-polished. There is an upcoming scene where Ms Bull and her frog puppet George erupt in hysterics.
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The big lesson, Ms Bull hoped, was for parents at home in isolation to realise they too could have some fun and spend time reading aloud with their children.
"I feel like I'm getting better at it. I'm just being myself...I think seeing I make mistakes all the way though it gives parents a bit more confidence - if Julie makes mistakes of if Julie makes silly voices, then it's okay," Ms Bull said.
"I do love Play School but they rehearse for every episode...I just pick a book and read it because I love it. I write a bit of a script for storytime so I don't get too sidetracked, but whether I know the words or not does not matter."
WATCH: Shark in the Park for a Wiggle and Rhyme session below
Ballarat Libraries has launched Storytime via its social media channels, based on the in-library sessions, in a bid to keep children engaged with reading and routine. Episodes will be mixed to cater to babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers with activities to keep children exploring after the session.
Early childhood literacy was the focus for The Ballarat Foundation's Run for a Cause last year with one in five children starting school developmentally behind their peers.
Ms Bull said storytime sessions aimed to be fun, to give children something that was not just a television program to watch and to keep children on a journey.
The hardest part for Ms Bull was not having an audience, children and adults, to feed off. But her first storytime had about 6000 views within 24 hours.
I think seeing I make mistakes all the way though it gives parents a bit more confidence.
- Julie Bull, Ballarat Libraries
"For a lot of families, it's a face they know," Ms Bull said. "There's a sense that even though we're in isolation, there's still Julie singing songs they know and that little bit of routine."
Storytimers are encouraged to share something they are doing related to the book of the week, like make a telescope, by tagging Ballarat Libraries on Instagram. Ms Bull said it was a fun way to keep the conversations, usually had in the libraries, going from home.
Meanwhile, primary school pupils across Ballarat are encouraged to submit their book reviews online to Bulldogs Read.
The Western Bulldogs-led literacy program is run exclusively in partnership with Ballarat Libraries with participating schools across the region. While the program is on suspension, due to the club's temporary down-sizing in operations, the Bulldogs' Read book review website remains active.
Ms Bull said children's online education was important and this was a way children could keep reading, writing and inspiring each other from home.
Ballarat Libraries is also working on more story sharing for all ages via social media.
All City of Ballarat libraries remain closed. No loans will be due or fines generated during this time. Those will books on loan are urged to not attempt to return them until libraries are re-opened.
E-resources are available.
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