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Monday, September 15, 2008, 10:43 AM
Rollins connects with children through stories By Stephanie Creech Daily Times Senior Writer The spark and excitement Terry Rollins sees in children's eyes when he's telling a story are proof to him their imaginations are still alive. It's all part of the exchange between storyteller and listeners that Rollins enjoys. Rollins, 50, joined the children's services staff at the Wilson County Public Library in June, just in time to put his professional storytelling skills to work in the summer reading program. He's also taken over the Wednesday storytime for children from birth to two years old. Rollins wants to help parents and children see the important connections between storytelling, books and learning to read well. He's also working with Rebecca Tighe, who heads up children's services, to develop new and improved programs for library patrons. The library is sending Rollins and Tighe to the national storytelling festival in Tennessee later this year. Rollins said they hope to come back with new stories and new ways of telling stories they already know. The duo is also already working on plans for next summer's reading program. Rollins said their goal is to help make the Wilson County Public Library's children's services the best in eastern North Carolina if not the best in the state. "We want to offer top quality programs for children of all ages," Rollins said. Rollins currently lives between Greenville and Washington. But he said the one-hour plus commute is an easy drive and he enjoys spending the time listening to National Public Radio and catching up on the daily news. Rollins moved to eastern North Carolina last year because he wanted to live closer to the water and enjoys walking along the waterfront in Washington. Tighe said it's wonderful to have someone with his talent and abilities on the library's staff. She also thinks little boys are responding positively to having a male presence in the children's section. Tighe described Rollins as "quick on his feet" and able to change gears quickly, skills that are needed when working with children. Tighe said Rollins' enthusiasm is contagious and his passion for storytelling and reading has helped renew her own. Born in Raleigh, Rollins grew up in Harnett County. He graduated from Lafayette School in 1976 and went on to earn an associate's degree in library technology from Wake Technical Community College. Rollins has around 15 years of experience working in various libraries. Twelve of those 15 years were spent working in the library at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh. It was there that Rollins first started really developing his storytelling skills. He also connected with other people in Wake County interested in storytelling. Rollins remembers fondly the late Alice Walker, a fellow librarian at the Morehead school, who took the time to give him insights into the library world and shared a similar philosophy about children's services. Rollins was positively affected by Walker's high standards for service, ethics and enthusiasm for working with children. In 1991, Rollins left the Morehead school and decided to go into business for himself as a professional storyteller. In 1994, Rollins founded and edited the "Journal of Tar Heel Tellers," which later became the newsletter for the state's storytelling guild, which Rollins helped found in 1998. Rollins is still active in the storytelling field. He is available to do programs for not only young children but high school students and adults. His program for older students focuses on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Rollins also does a pirate program and even dresses in costume. Rollins said he loves telling North Carolina folktales, which encompass Appalachian Jack tales or wonder stories from the western part of the state to pirate and ghost stories from the eastern part of the state. His repertoire also includes stories Rollins has developed himself. Rollins said he has ideas for several children's books he would like to pursue writing at some point. Stories, in Rollins' opinion, provide people with roots and a sense of place. He remembers as a child listening to family stories told on Sundays when his extended family would gather for lunch. At the time, he didn't recognize what was happening as storytelling, per se. But now Rollins incorporates some of the funny family stories into his programs. creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822
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