GSLIS Storytelling Festival to be held April 12

The Center for Children’s Books (CCB) will host its annual Storytelling Festival, coordinated this year by GSLIS students Amy Atkinson and Tad Andracki, on Saturday, April 12, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the GSLIS Building, Room 126. The Festival will feature age-old folklore, innovative uses of new media, and everything in between. The festival will bring to life a host of characters ranging from shining golden knights to crafty tricksters. Stories will be performed by a select group of GSLIS students, alumni, and faculty, including new storytellers and returning seasoned professionals. Atkinson will be returning as emcee to provide introductions and links as entertaining as the stories themselves.

"The Storytelling Festival is one of our great annual traditions, showing how the power of this ancient art remains vibrant in contemporary times and relevant to sophisticated adult audiences," said CCB Director Deborah Stevenson. "Digital media offers new and intriguing ways to think about storytelling, but there's also something magical about the low-tech power of one person's voice and a hushed group of rapt listeners."

Admission requires a $5 ticket; students with an ID may purchase tickets for $3. Doors will open for ticket purchase beginning at 6:15 p.m. Some material at the festival may not be appropriate for children. For more information, or if you need a special accommodation to fully participate in this program/event, contact the CCB at (217) 244-9331 or via email

Tags:
Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Clark joins Academic Affairs

Corissa Clark joined the iSchool last month as an office administrator for Academic Affairs. In her new position, she will work closely with faculty, staff, and university administration to ensure accurate scheduling and efficient course management for the iSchool's graduate programs.

Corissa Clark

Students put designs into practice in escape room course

In the past few years, escape rooms have been on the rise, evolving from simple locked boxes in an open room to complex adventures spanning multiple rooms involving electronics, sound design, and even live actors. This past semester, students enrolled in the Makerspace: Escape Rooms (INFO 418) course brought that same spirit of creativity and design to the Fairy Tale Ball at The Urbana Free Library. 

Children lined up at a station at the Fairy Tale Ball at The Urbana Free Library.

Weech passes away

Associate Professor Emeritus Terry Laverne Weech passed away on June 5, 2025, in Staunton, Virginia. He was the widower of Eunice Hovis Weech, who passed away on October 16, 2022. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Brenda Bruce, and her husband, Timothy, and cousins, Wilber Rehmann and Susan Henry Anderson.

Terry L Weech