These days, old stories are read or run but there are some places where
the stories are performed. They are public libraries. The purpose of this paper
is to summarise the current state of storytelling programs and plan to present
ways for vitalizing the programs for old stories in the public libraries in Seoul.
First, this paper examines the locations and problems of the old storytelling
programs.
The typical storytelling programs are old storytelling programs and narration
of fairy tales. Old storytelling programs are thought to be replaced or subset
of fairy tales programs. The classes for fairy tales programs are almost four times
as much as old storytelling programs. The programs of narration of fairy tales
are thought to be more enjoyable and educational. This paper studies the cases
of old storytelling programs in public libraries to find internal problems and
suggest alternatives. The case which is examined here are three:
Doggabigamtu, the storyteller in Songpa Children’s Library, Arumdaun
grandma, storytellers whom Advanced Center for Korean Studies selected and
educated, Unarae, the volunteers who read books in the libraries. They feel
some pressure to tell the old stories when they thing the tradition stories must
be perfect and fixed. I propose “sharing stories” on the base of old stories to release the pressure. It is plan to open old story treasure warehouse to provide
the sources of new stories. Oral situation is not a barrier but a new possibility.
Finally, this paper shows the meanings of the project and other questions
remaining unanswered.