The Power of Stories

Stories are powerful. There is no doubt about it. I have always been drawn to a good story, especially if the person telling it is engaging and thought-provoking. That’s probably why I have been writing about oral histories for the better part of this semester. Since I have been exploring how to hypothetically apply these ideas to libraries in the future, I thought I would take the time to share some examples of why I am interested in storytelling.

Previous blog posts can be found here:

How Libraries Can Bear Witness to History Through Participatory Service

Innovation Roadmap: Oral History Library

The first video is about Betty Reid Soskin. I first heard about her when she became the oldest serving park ranger in the United States when she turned 100. A documentary about her life was already being produced, and I instantly became enamored with her life and the advice she wanted to leave behind.

View the clip here:  Betty Reid Soskin

The second clip is an example of how a quick personal update can actually be a matter of public safety. Earlier this week, several different women had been attacked by a man they didn’t know, unprovoked, in New York City. The majority of these women posted their stories to TikTok, and the attacker was just arrested yesterday. This wouldn’t have been possible without crowdsourcing and the brave women who were willing to publicly share what happened in real-time.

Link to clip: @halleykate

The last clip is more heartfelt. It’s just an ordinary person who wants to share a piece of themselves and how one person changed their life in a small but powerful way.

View the clip here:  @bby_hxxii

I hope everyone enjoyed the clips, and as always, I look forward to hearing more stories!

 

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