ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Are you an avid book lover? Do you like to read aloud?
Well, maybe you should consider being a professional storyteller. Yes. it’s an actual job in Florida.
Being a storyteller for the Orange County Library System is something Deanna Braunstein never thought she’d be doing as a career.
“I actually have a theater degree and I used to work as a mime,” Braunstein said. “One day I told my husband, ‘I’d really like to use my theater degree to talk.’ He happened to see an ad in the paper for storytellers and I applied.”
Braunstein visited The Summit of Winter Garden bringing the stories of The Three Princes of Serendip to life. The book is full of Middle Eastern folk tales. Braunstein said when it comes to storytelling, short stories with human experiences go well with most crowds.
“You find stories that are similar in all cultures. Almost every culture has some kind of Cinderella story. What happens is, that stories used to be told all the time, and as people traveled, the stories moved and then people would find a way to make them their own. They speak to the story of the human experience,” Braunstein explained. “Everybody just loves hearing stories and I can’t just put an exact ‘why’ on it. It’s something that’s a bond between kids and parents and then as they get older, maybe they process them differently.”
Reading to a group of residents at The Summit of Winter Garden, Braunstein was very animated. Using different voices to tell the story and demonstrating some of the movements. Residents could be heard giggling as Braunstein went over the top, acting out the stories in the pages of the book.
“When somebody comes in like her with all that power, that excitement that she gives, it makes the story that much better,” said Glenna Petz, one of the residents at The Summit.
Braunstein has been a storyteller with the Orange County Library System for about 20 years, but storytellers have been entertaining and inspiring readers from kids to adults since the opening of the Albertson Public Library in Orlando in 1923. They even traveled to schools and theaters to tell stories beyond the book using puppets, pictures, and pizzazz. The tradition continues today with six paid storytellers on staff including Braunstein.
“Our whole community is growing expansively, so we need to be where the people are, not where we want them to be, which of course is in a library, but they can’t all get there. It’s fun and exciting to see their faces,” said Braunstein.
The faces of the young and the wiser, like Glenna Petz.
“This is my first time and when I heard her, she was just fascinating and I just enjoyed it so much. I just laughed out loud because it was so much fun,” said Petz.
Bill Maillard and his wife, Vivian show up for storytime every month.
“At this stage, it’s difficult to sit down and read so we enjoy hearing the stories and it’s great that there are people who come out and entertain us,” said Maillard. “That’s why we come. We enjoy the stories. The storytellers are each different and they’re all good and entertaining, we look forward to it.”
The stories are relatable, leading to discussions and provoking memories.
“I think they address the human experience. They help them remember things about their own lives. They just enjoy feeling whatever emotions it can bring up,” said Braunstein.
“I just love it, I love to see the engagement that the residents have and the most important thing is they’re having fun,” said Marie Lucas, Life Enrichment Director at The Summit of Winter Garden.
The original storytelling troupe with paid storytellers was formed in 1994, so librarians and other staff could focus on other tasks throughout the libraries. There’s still a storyteller currently staffed from the original troupe.
The storytellers go through an extensive interview process, including an audition.
“We’re all different, so we all bring something different. I bring my sense of humor and my interest in things,” Braunstein said. “It has turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
OCLS offers a variety of storytime events for all ages, including some integrating special activities like crafts. Click here for a list of storytime events.
Storytime through OCLS is free with a library card — which is also free for eligible Orange County residents.