Since August of 2020, the Raleigh County Public Library has been a part of Stories in the Cloud’s Dial A Story service, which combines a dedicated local number with cloud technology to provide library patrons with a pre-recorded story that works from any phone without the use of internet or data plans.
According to Director of the Raleigh County Public Library Amy Stover, the library pays a subscription fee each month to upload stories that volunteers have recorded. In the past, the library has uploaded children’s stories, literary classics like “A Christmas Carol” and “Black Beauty,” and even stories that volunteers have written themselves.
This month, callers can listen to “The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza,” “Natalie’s Hair was Wild,” “I Love You With All My Hearts,” and more.
The library changes the story selection each month and, although the service has no specific age range, the library tries to ensure that at least half of the stories are shorter in length to appeal to a younger audience.
Since launching the service in Raleigh County last year, Stover says, on average, 200 to 400 residents call each month.
“Having something like this is incredibly important,” Stover said. “With COVID, large, in-person gatherings just can’t happen, and not everyone has internet at home. We would love to have everyone log in and read over zoom and share that way, but we realize that isn’t realistic. Most people do have access to a phone and with a free, local number, we can be part of shared reading time.
Stover recalled being young and utilizing her Dial A Story service, which used a cassette tape that only one person could listen to at a time.
“With this, it’s infinite. Anyone can call in and listen all at one time. We just hope the community is enjoying it.”
To call Dial A Story and listen to this month’s selection call, 304-774-2300.
Anyone interested in volunteering to record a story to read for the service can call the library at 304-255-0511.
Visit www.storiesinthecloud.com for more information on the Dial A Story service.