A scholarship opportunity and a chance to compete in a storytelling contest have come to two librarians with the New Hanover County Library.
Local History Librarian Jennifer Daugherty has been awarded the Jean Thomason Librarian Scholarship to attend the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, which draws more than 200 genealogists together each year for a week of intensive study of genealogical sources and methods.
The institute will meet June 7-12 at the Samford University Library in Birmingham, Alabama.
Daugherty will take the institute’s advanced methodology and evidence analysis course, which will expand her ability to assist and train local genealogists, the county said in a release. The scholarship will cover the cost of her tuition.
Daugherty serves as the special collections and local history librarian at the New Hanover County Library’s downtown branch. She also serves as vice president of the Old New Hanover Genealogy Society and publicity chair of the North Carolina Genealogy Society.
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Meanwhile, fellow librarian Scooter Hayes, a youth services librarian at New Hanover’s Myrtle Grove branch, has entered a national storytelling competition that the public can decide by voting online.
Children’s author and actor B.J. Novak, known to television audiences for his role on “The Office,” recently challenged teachers, librarians and parents to have someone film them reading his best-selling book, “The Book with No Pictures,” aloud to kids.
“Since the book literally has no pictures,” the county said in a release, “its appeal to young children depends on the silliness of the words and the enthusiasm and creativity of the reader.”
All contest submissions are posted online, and Hayes’ performance can be viewed and voted for here. The storyteller who receives the most votes will earn $5,000 and a visit from Novak, who will read his book to children in-person.
Votes can be cast through Feb. 28.
