Jimmy Neil Smith, the founder of the National Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, said, “We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
Your Library’s community journal collection, called “The Pages of Johnson City Public Library,” is motivated by the same idea, that everyone has stories to tell and that those stories connect us to each other in powerful and unexpected ways.
We have 14 journals—10 for story-writing and four for drawing—that you can check out like you would a library book. You borrow a journal, read what your neighbors have written, and share a story or drawing of your own.
Your stories can be written or drawn in any style you want, and all writing and artistic levels are welcome. Entries can be anonymous or signed. The rest of the guidelines can be found on the opening page of each journal.
The journals each have a different theme, such as “Stories from Childhood,” “Pets I’ve Loved,” and “Poetry.” There’s even one called “An Ongoing Story by You,” which is exactly what it sounds like—an ongoing story advanced by each new person who borrows the journal.
Browse the CollectionYou can’t place a hold on a journal through the catalog, but if you call (423) 434-4454 or visit the Information Desk we’ll be happy to do that for you.
The Pages of JCPL collection is located on the second floor on the display near the Tennessee Room. You check out and return the journals just like you would any other library item. They can be borrowed for two weeks at a time.
Librarian Wendy Day sees The Pages of JCPL as a fun, unique way to connect community members with each other and with the Library. She says, “We want to provide a way for people to express their creativity, exchange ideas, and share experiences.”
“At the Library we really value collaboration, imagination, and diverse perspectives,” Wendy explains. “These journals are a way of expressing those values.”
These journals don’t just give you a chance to learn about yourself (although they do that too). They also provide you with the unique opportunity to identify with strangers’ stories and hear the different experiences and perspectives of your neighbors.
Wendy says, “We hope people find filling these pages therapeutic. But it’s also about more than the personal experience. We hope people feel inspired and connected as they encounter the diverse experiences of others in their community.”
Call (423) 434-4454 for more information about The Pages of JCPL and to put one on hold for checkout!
