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Coronavirus closes libraries, but kids still able to watch Story Time thanks to live streaming

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a woman holding a stuffed bear, sitting on a couch in a library with a giant book she is about to read.
Lee Croucher has started reading to children on social media live streams.(Supplied: Lee Croucher)
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abc.net.au/news/singleton-librarian-shares-story-time-streaming-sessions/12092166

For librarian, Lee Croucher, singing and reading to an audience of excited and cheery children is a significant part of her working day, but that's all changed.

Ms Croucher works as an early literacy officer at the Singleton library in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. She reads books and sings songs to children during Story Time sessions, which sees up to 30 children in attendance.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, libraries across Australia are now closed, but Ms Croucher continues to read and perform for children through social media live streams.

"I was concerned with self-isolation that [the children] would be missing what we are doing," she said.

"Everyone at the library put our heads together and decided to live stream our Story Time to give them something to smile about.

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Social distancing Story Time at Singleton Library(ABC Newcastle: Anthony Scully)

"It's very easy to access the library on social media, so I'm doing Story Time to try to service the local community."

Since the first live stream on the library's Facebook page, Ms Croucher's Story Time sessions have been viewed more than 7,500 times and have garnered more than 100 comments from parents watching at home with their children.

Ms Croucher said it had been fantastic seeing so many children watching from home.

"I was going through the comments and read that a family who used to come in all the time, but moved away due to work commitments, were able to watch online," she said.

"A lot of the parents have got their children at home now and have said they will be tuning in every day to watch what I'm doing while they eat their morning tea."

A young boy and girl watching a video on a video at home
Children who regularly attend Singleton library's Story Time have been tuning in from home.(Supplied: Cassandra Buckley)

Ms Croucher has been an employee of the library for 12 years and said she had always been a lover of early literacy and encouraged children to love books.

"I fell into this job and once I got into it I realised what an impact I can have on children's lives," she said.

"At a young age, I think it's important they have a passion for stories.

Livestream helps parents feel 'part of the community'

Cassandra Buckley has been attending the library's Story Time for more than five years with her two young children and said the online stream had been amazing.

"The live stream is awesome," she said.

"I work full time, so we only make it to Saturday Story Time sporadically, but having it online is amazing.

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"We still feel a part of the young family community that we miss out on during the week.

Ms Buckley credits Ms Croucher for her children's love of the library's Story Time.

"Lee is so welcoming — they have no hesitation sitting with her and joining in because they feel confident with her," she said.

"The kids just adore her."

Library continues to support community with doors closed

The Story Time sessions will continue some weekdays at the library, with ebooks available to download for book lovers.

Ms Croucher said she would continue Story Time for as long as needed through online streaming.

"Everything is flexible at the moment — if there is a need to do these often, we will do it," she said.

"Because school-aged kids are home, we might start doing chapter book reading because it's all evolving and we will develop new programs to accommodate people at this time.

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