drag me to story hour! - florida library webinars · 2019-08-10 · history once upon a time, in...
TRANSCRIPT
Drag Me To Story Hour! How to Present a Dynamic and Successful
Drag Queen Story Hour
Melanie Borski-Howard, MS she/her/hers
Youth Services Specialist and Author of
Storytime and Beyond [email protected]
Agenda
• Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) History
• Why to do DQSH
• How to set it up
• Getting the word out/PR
• Boulder Public Library DQST
• Clearview Library District DQSH
• Dealing with negative press
• High Plains Rainbow Storytime and
• Questions
HISTORY Once upon a time, in 2015, a writer in San Francisco named Michelle Tea got the idea for “Drag Queen Story Hour”: men in full drag reading children’s books to kids and parents in programs aimed at providing “positive and unabashedly queer role models.” -New York Times Sept 2018 article
“I started DQSH because as a new mom in my 40s, after decades of being almost entirely in queer spaces, I found that regular story hours were sort of defacto straight and a little boring. I missed the queer irreverence and charm I was used to seeing in arts programming, and it seemed like an easy way to merge queer culture with kid culture, and like something everyone would enjoy!”- Michelle Tea
Why do DQSH?
“We want ALL kids to be represented in the stories they are told and the
literary events/storytimes they attend. We strive to offer a wide range of
events that represents the diverse voices in our community. We love the
Drag community and want to support their message of LGBTQ+ voices being
heard and showcase their incredible talent while doing it!”
-Lauren Casey, Community and Author Liaison for Second Star to the Right
Children’s Books
“We are proud to offer storytime to each and every child, no matter what! We don't ban books and we don't ban each other. Drag Queen Storytime is as important as Sensory Storytime is as important as Yoga Storytime is as important as Santa Storytime is as important as....” -Marilyn Robbins, BookBar in Denver
VISION (From Drag Queen Story Hour)
However children feel comfortable expressing themselves,
experimenting with how they want to show up in the world, and
perform themselves, there should be a welcome mat laid at the
door of each library. That is central to work to us and we hope to
every librarian. We talk about books being valuable as both
windows and mirrors. Our storytellers give us a new perspective
and a reassuring look in the mirror. We want libraries to create
pride and celebration of all identities.
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a
division of the American Library Association (ALA),
believes that all children, no matter their circumstances or
attributes, need and deserve the very best opportunities,
and envisions a future where public libraries are
recognized as vital to all children and the communities
that support them. That passion energizes ALSC members
to be innovators in the field of children’s library services,
particularly in areas of access, advocacy, outreach,
inclusion, and diversity.
-Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public
Libraries
Setting it up
• Get the OK from your administration • Hire a great Queen • Work with your PR person to create a strong, simple
Press Release and get the word out online. Be transparent!
https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.org/
SONGS:
HEELS ON THE DRAG QUEEN SONG
Written by Lil Miss Hot Mess from Drag Queen Story Hour
The heels on the drag queen go higher and higher,
higher and higher,
higher and higher.
The heels on the drag queen go higher and higher,
all through the town.
(Stand on Tippy Toes)
The hair on the drag queen gets bigger and bigger;
Bigger and Bigger;
Bigger and bigger.
The hair on the drag queen gets bigger and bigger,
all through the town.
(Hands making the hair bigger and bigger)
-From the “DQSH Guidelines”
Lots of booklists!
Preschoolers
● I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison
● Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
● Clive and His Babies (Series) by Jessica Spanyol
● Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
● Tough Guys Have Feelings Too by Keith Negley
● Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin and James Dean
● Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
● Neither by Airlie Anderson
● Todd Parr Series
● This Day in June by Gayle E Pitman
● The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
● Families, Families, Families by Suzanne Lang
● The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
● Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
● If You're a Monster and You Know It by Ed Emberley and Rebecca
Emberley
● Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou
● Go Away Big Green Monster Book by Ed Emberley
-From the “DQSH Guidelines”
ALL THE HOW TO INFO YOU
NEED IS HERE:
Our first poster promoting the event
Nov 2017, Saturday, 10:15: 140 people welcomed Zarah! Monday, 10:15: 150 welcomed Shirley Delta Blow!
Nov 2018- Same set up Saturday, 150 Monday, 250!!! (in our auditorium)
Clearview Library District DQSH
Sources: Greeley Tribune
Our Journey Towards Inclusion
Amy Ortiz and Carolyn Valencia
Outreach librarians High Plains Library Districts’
Mission of Diversity and Inclusion
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Maya Angelou
Greeley’s First Congregational Church:
Rainbow Storytime Diversity Series
Diverse Families
Children with Developmental Disabilities
Gender Identity
Let’s Talk about Race
Questions?
Andrea Cleland, MLIS, RYT-500, RCYT-95
Early Literacy Librarian, Clearview Library District
andrea @clearviewlibrary.org
E-MAIL ME FOR MORE INFO!
Melanie Borski-Howard, MS Youth Services Specialist
[email protected] [email protected]
Amy Ortiz & Carolyn Valencia
Outreach Librarians
High Plains Library District [email protected] [email protected]