The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library is now part of California Listens, a statewide Digital Storytelling project sponsored by the California State Library. Local library officials hope to collect a tapestry of stories of what it means to be a Californian. These video stories will become part of the California State Library’s collection and used by the local library system.

The workshop will be a two-day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. event to help 15 community members create two- to four-minute digital stories. Participants will be asked to work with library officials all day Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, to make their movies. The project will be led by staff from StoryCenter based in Berkeley, an internationally recognized non-profit that basically invented the practice of Digital Storytelling over 20 years ago.

StoryCenter’s workshop approach is highly participatory, focusing on writing and recording a short narration script, then creating a basic visual treatment in an easy to use video editor. You can see samples of StoryCenter’s work at storycenter.org or on their YouTube channel (youtube.com/storycenter). Their work is based on deeply held ethical principles, cultural humility, and sensitivity to the experience of the storytellers in creating their stories and how the stories will be shared.

“We are looking to recruit 15 participant storytellers,” said Community Services Deputy Director Suzy Daveluy.

If you are interested or know someone who might be willing to share in this experience, go to www.ssjcpl.org and click on the California Listens banner. To learn more about California Listens, visit their website at californialistens.org.

“We will share the videos at a screening event soon after they are completed,” Daveluy added. “We are honored to be a part of this project and look forward to hearing and seeing stories from those who graciously offer their time and energy to this program.”