A Year of Stories: LibraryCall's Exciting Plans for 2024
February 1, 2024Happy February!
Exciting things are in store for LibraryCall customers this year, and we’re excited to share them with you. Here are some highlights:
- Expanding our Spanish Collection: With the help of our talented storytellers, Lorena Romero and Daniel Fernando, we'll be adding stories to our Spanish collection.
- Remastering and Releasing Audio Stories: We’re in the process of remastering many of our older audio stories. As we improve stories, we release them to the Storytime Commons. We are also publishing many of them as audiobooks.
- Introducing LibraryCall Kids!: We're happy to announce the upcoming release of LibraryCall Kids!, an audiobook app designed specifically for children. This app will allow young ones to explore and listen to LibraryCall stories that match their interests. With unrestricted listening and seamless integration into library websites, it'll be easier than ever for patrons to download, enjoy, and keep the stories they love. Stay tuned for its launch later this year!
New to the Public Domain
Did you know that every year on January 1, new stories enter the public domain? This is particularly exciting news for our Dial-A-Story Studio customers! Public domain stories can be copied, shared, and adapted freely for your Dial-A-Story programs. In 2024, two notable children's titles that entered the public domain are "Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag and "The House at Pooh Corner" by A.A. Milne.Intriguingly, Mickey Mouse has also entered the public domain in 2024, or at least, a part of his legacy has! "Steamboat Willie," the iconic 1928 Disney cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse, is now part of the public domain. Although copyright law can be complex and Disney has a history of fighting for copyright extensions, the general consensus is that the original, black and white version of Mickey Mouse is no longer under copyright. Is it time for a black and white Mickey Mouse party at the library? Old-fashioned Mickey Mouse summer reading theme? We can't wait to see what you come up with!
Here's to another year of great stories!
-The LibraryCall team
Welcoming Stephaney Cortes Alvarado
May 23, 2022We are happy to announce the addition of Stephaney Cortes Alvarado to our growing content development team. Stephaney will be responsible for Spanish translations and original stories.
Summer Reading, Storywalk support, and other new stuff
May 12, 2022We're here to support you with your Summer Reading and Storywalk programs. We also have some new recordings to share, including an adaptation of a Japanese folktale we commissioned to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
On the road with LibraryCall and Bessie Stringfield
April 27, 2022LibraryCall attends the Texas Library Association Conference in Fort Worth and features a story about Bessie Stringfield, a motorcycle-riding, barrier-breaking African American woman.
Stories that spring to mind
April 7, 2022This article shares spring stories and terrible jokes.
Back from PLA with new ideas and stories
March 31, 2022Reflections on our conversations with library staff at the 2022 Public Library Association conference in Portland, Oregon. How can we use LibraryCall technology to reach that last 10% of people who don't have broadband internet access? We also share some new stories and resources.
LibraryCall Partners with Tolteca Press
March 21, 2022LibraryCall is pleased to announce, as part of its ongoing effort to reflect and honor the diversity of all children and families, a new partnership with San Diego-based publisher Tolteca Press.
LibraryCall Wins National Modern Library Award
March 14, 2022LibraryCall is honored with a platinum Modern Library Award (MLA) for offering a top product in the library industry.
You're in luck-- stories for St. Patrick's Day
March 9, 2022Happy March! If you’re looking for a St. Patrick’s Day story to share with your community this month, check out two titles we’ve licensed from UK-based Storynory.com.
Check out these new stories & events!
February 24, 2022Sharing information about free upcoming events for LibraryCall clients and new stories for Black History Month.
Black History Month Stories
February 11, 2022February is Black History Month. Our talented content creator Lauren Kratz Prushko has been hard at work producing stories that celebrate the African diaspora and honor the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shape the nation.