Cultures share stories

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Written by Amy Hammer

Friday, 05 December 2008 09:36

This Saturday, the Albany County Public Library will host “Stories from Around the World.” International students representing the Albany County campus of the Laramie County Community College will be sharing their cultures with the public.

“Stories from Around the World” will be at Albany County Public Library at 310 South eighth Street from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Mollie Steinke, an adjunct instructor at LCCC, is in charge of the event.

“Students from different countries have selected picture books that represent their culture as traditional folktales, legends or nonfiction books,” Steinke said. “The program will begin with a CD of music from different countries and then LCCC students will read their books.”

There will be a question-and-answer session following the readings to allow the public to find out more about these cultures.

Children will also get the chance to create an international ornament to take home.

This is the program’s first year, but if it is a success, the Albany County Library hopes to make it an annual event.

Steinke has been very involved in the lives of the international students at LCCC.

Steinke has incorporated service learning at LCCC and last year Steinke’s students volunteered at 12 different locations. This time they focused on “Stories from Around the World.”

“This semester, I decided they should focus on one aspect of service learning,” Steinke said.

“Stories from Around the World” is a public service, as well as a learning opportunity for these international students. Pronunciation is improved and confidence is gained as students get the chance to make a difference to someone else.

“I believe my students will benefit from sharing their cultures with the public; the public will benefit from learning about other ways of life. That is important to me,” Steinke said.

“The beginning of the holiday season is the perfect time of the year for the Albany County Public Library and LCCC to offer a joint international story time to our community. We are looking forward to introducing local children to stories from around the world,” Nora Ivers, the children’s librarian at the Albany County Public Library, said.

“It is free and open to anyone with a thirst for learning about other cultures,” Steinke said. “I feel it is important for the community to attend because they will help support the international community in Laramie as well as learn about the world through the eyes of story tellers.”

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