Your Library is hosting a free performance by storyteller Sheila Arnold on Monday, November 10 at 6 p.m. in the Library’s Jones Meeting Center. This event is made possible through a partnership with the International Storytelling Center.
Sheila Arnold is a master storyteller who specializes in interpreting historical characters and bringing them to life for modern audiences across the country. She also teaches storytelling, creative writing, and professional development workshops for educators, and is a sought-after historical consultant for museums. She is a regular Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center.
Her appearance at the Library is part of her community series called “More Than One Story.” The performance will feature three historical Tennessee stories: Elihu Embree, the abolitionist and publisher from Jonesborough; the Scarboro desegregation in Oak Ridge; and the closing of Langston High School due to desegregation in Johnson City.
Arnold’s work highlights how telling historical stories can guide society toward a better present and future. She believes that stories about the past can serve several purposes. “They help us recognize that we have been through something before,” she said, “and we can learn from the past how to work things through today.”
“Historical stories can also help people see from another point of view,” Arnold continued, and in that way the truth of someone else’s experience can be received in a non-threatening way.
“Lastly,” she said, “these stories help us remember that where we are right now will one day be history and we have to answer the question, ‘What do we want history to say about us?’”
Learn more about Sheila Arnold and her extensive work here. Call 423-434-4454 for information about her performance at the Library on November 10.
Visit our events calendar to find more upcoming opportunities for people of all ages. Follow Johnson City Public Library on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates about Library programs, collections, and services.
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