The Dewey Decimal System (DDC) was copyrighted in 1876 for use in libraries. It is the way books are classified and displayed on the shelves. If you wanted to find a book, pre-computer era, you used the "card catalogue". You looked up the book alphabetically in a huge set of drawers with small cards listing each book in the library. That card listed a DDC Number. You then went to that number section in the stacks, i.e.200-300. Your book could be found in "numerical order" on the shelf.

One of the innovations of the Dewey Decimal system was that of positioning books on the shelves in relation to other books on similar topics. Before the system was first introduced, most libraries in the US used fixed positioning: each book was assigned a permanent shelf position based on the book's height and date of acquisition. Library stacks were generally closed to all but the most privileged patrons, so shelf browsing was not considered of importance. The use of the Dewey Decimal system increased during the early 20th century as librarians were convinced of the advantages of relative positioning and of open shelf access for patrons.

For storytellers, the important number and section of the library is 398.2 - Folk tales and Fairytales. Happy Birthday Melvil!

This means if you live in Oregon, for example, you can now attend the summer institutes and regular classes in the storytelling program at ETSU for Tennessee tuition rates – a significant savings! Visit the ETSU website for information on the Storytelling Program at ETSU. Apply for admission and sign up for your classes through ETSU. Complete the Contract Voucher and send it to the NSN office. The form may be submitted electronically or printed and mailed to the address listed on the form.

Enjoy the classes!

We seek an energetic and inspiring faculty member with strong academic credentials and proven storytelling performance experience. This faculty member will contribute to our Communication & Storytelling Studies master’s degree program by training students in the art & craft of storytelling. We aim to hire someone who understands, and will help our students understand, storytelling not only as folk and traditional art, but also as contemporary practice with socially transformative potential. We seek someone with a strong commitment to interdisciplinarity, intersectionality, cultural equity, and ethics of storytelling practices.
 

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The Call for the 5^th Annual New Voices is open for the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, April 26-28, in Woodruff. SC.

The New Voices event was created to give rising, professional-level storytellers the opportunity to be on the main stage and a chance to be selected as a Featured Teller for the following year’s Stone Soup Storytelling Festival. The festival committee will select 2020 Featured Tellers from 2019 New Voices. 

• Only professional-level storytellers who have never told as a featured teller at the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival may share stories in the New Voices events.
• Submit an audio and/or video sample of your storytelling.
• Perform a festival-quality story that is no more than 10 minutes long.
• Submit a completed application and samples of stories.
• Selected New Voices will come to the festival at their own expense, with no monetary compensation. You will, however, receive free admission to all festival activities. 

Northlands Storytelling Network is offering “New Voices” Conference Scholarships to anyone 18 years and older who is new to storytelling and is interested in improving their skills and/or using storytelling in their respective fields.

Recipients of the scholarships will be paired with others at the conference who will act as guides and resources during the conference. Up to four scholarships may be awarded. Members of the Northlands Scholarship Committee will judge applications and determine scholarship winners. Winners will be notified as soon as possible after the application deadline.

Who May Apply:

• Adults ages 18 year and older, interested in using storytelling in their respective fields, i.e., education, psychology, museum education, environmental education, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, library services, etc. • Recipients may only receive the scholarship twice within a five-year period. Winners Receive: • Free conference registration. • 2 nights (Friday & Saturday) shared lodging with another scholarship recipient. • Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday lunch and dinner (complimentary breakfast at hotel)

• Membership to Northlands Storytelling Network for one year. Additional Requirements: • Must provide own transportation to/from conference.
• Meet with the New Voices coordinator and other scholarship recipients over breakfast Saturday morning. Application:

Please provide the following information:
• Name, Address, City, State, Zip
• Telephone Numbers (home and cell)
• Email Address
• Employer/Job Title
• Year of Birth
• Answer the following questions:
   1. How did you hear about the New Voices Scholarship?
   2. Why are you interested in attending the Northlands Storytelling Conference?
   3. Have you ever received a Northlands Scholarship? If so, in what year?
   4. Have you ever attended a regional or national storytelling conference?
       If so, in what year and the name of the conference?
   5. Describe your experience with storytelling and/or story listening.
   6. How can storytelling be used in your present or desired line of work?

Email your application to: northlands.storytelling@gmail.com List “Scholarship” in subject line

Application Must be Received by: January 31, 2019 

Want to present 55 minutes of your most compelling, riskiest, experimental or work in progress storytelling? How about joining forces with a friend(s) to create an ensemble performance event? Think of all the possibilities: 55 minutes of autobiography, performance art, folktales, stand-up, puppetry, dance or your favorite long form story!

What is the Fringe? The NSN Fringe follows the standard Fringe Festival model by providing the opportunity for you to experience many aspects of a typical Fringe Festival including the selection process and performance framework. In keeping with the Fringe principle of an un-juried selection process, Fringe performers for the 2019 National Storytelling Summit will be selected by lottery.

Deadline for submission: Midnight on January 31, 2019 CST
 
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Who May Apply?
Adults ages 18-35 (graduated or no longer attending high school), interested in using storytelling in their respective fields (i.e., education, psychology, museum educator, environmental educator, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, etc.)
 
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