When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was call the Dial-A-Story line at my local, public library.  I remember sitting on my kitchen floor and listening to a recorded voice read books, such as Harry the Dirty Dog, Corduroy, and Christina Katerina and the Box, over the telephone. Well, the public library in my hometown, Bloomington, Illinois, is still bringing stories to those whether they’re in the library or in the comfort of their own homes.

I first found Bloomington Public Library‘s videos of Board Members reading books via Bloomington Public Library’s Facebook Page. The videos also appear on the BPL’s website as embedded Vimeo videos.

While not done in all the videos, I am most impressed with the interactivity that the readers have implemented into the readings (check out My Friend Rabbit on their FB profile) — making it MORE than just reading to someone; it’s a participatory experience.  Not only do the videos show the beautiful illustrations from the books, but they include ways and methods for readers to interact with children while reading a story.  Children sit around the reader, and we get to see and hear their answers and opinions from the reader’s inquiries.  

Kudos to you Bloomington Public Library.  It’s still the lovely, memorable visit — even from my home in Central New Jersey.