Lucille LePage Storyteller

Long ago, as a child in Fall River, Massachusetts, I fell in love with books, stories and songs. It was mostly thanks to my mother, who talked, read, sang and listened to us four kids; the children’s room of the downtown public library; and our pépère (grandfather), who told us stories from his native French Canada.

Every person is a storyteller; and the daily narratives we share are maybe the most important stories of all.

But storytelling as part of my life’s work began only with my first children’s librarian’s job, in 1968. At Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library, storytelling to all ages of children, in all kinds of locations, came with the job. Fortunately, it was not optional. Though the term “dragged kicking and screaming” describes pretty accurately my initiation to the craft, it wasn’t long before telling stories became for me not only a joy but also a calling.

I was soon collecting, learning, writing and telling stories, whenever and wherever I could. Storytelling and the other elements of my life wove themselves together into a garment that fit just right.

And many stories later, in 1990, it was time to go for broke. I quit my fulltime children’s librarian’s position in Gloucester to concentrate on being, officially, Lucille LePage, Storyteller.

Since then, there have been challenges as well as joys, but no regrets.

I have presented programs at venues including the Maryland Library Association Storytelling Festival, Peabody Essex Museum, Gloucester Folklife Festival, ReadBoston, Hammond Castle Museum, an annual Stage Fort Park community storytelling series with Alicia Quintano, and thousands of other appearances, in schools, day care centers, shelters, churches, libraries, nursing homes, housing projects, festivals, workshops and other settings.
Audience reaction seems to confirm that I made the right decision.

The story of my storytelling, I am very happy to say, is to be continued.

Children’s Librarian

Salem Public Library, Salem, MA, 1997-2002
Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester, MA, 1986-1990
Boston Public Library, Boston, MA, 1978-1984
Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore , MD, 1968-1978

Education

Master of Library Science, University of Maryland, 1975. Course work included Storytelling and Children’s Literature.
Bachelor of Arts, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA, 1967. Major in English.
Storytelling workshop series led by Elizabeth Dunham, Cambridge, MA, 1985.
Extensive independent study of children’s literature, folklore and storytelling.

Member of

National Storytelling Network
League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling (LANES)



programs • biography a video sampler applause contact	My Storytelling Story Long ago, as a child in Fall River, Massachusetts, I fell in love with books, stories and songs. It was mostly thanks to my mother, who talked, read, sang and listened to us four kids; the children’s room of the downtown public library; and our pépère (grandfather), who told us stories from his native French Canada. Every person is a storyteller; and the daily narratives we share are maybe the most important stories of all. But storytelling as part of my life’s work began only with my first children’s librarian’s job, in 1968. At Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library, storytelling to all ages of children, in all kinds of locations, came with the job. Fortunately, it was not optional. Though the term “dragged kicking and screaming” describes pretty accurately my initiation to the craft, it wasn’t long before telling stories became for me not only a joy but also a calling. I was soon collecting, learning, writing and telling stories, whenever and wherever I could. Storytelling and the other elements of my life wove themselves together into a garment that fit just right. And many stories later, in 1990, it was time to go for broke. I quit my fulltime children’s librarian’s position in Gloucester to concentrate on being, officially, Lucille LePage, Storyteller. Since then, there have been challenges as well as joys, but no regrets. I have presented programs at venues including the Maryland Library Association Storytelling Festival, Peabody Essex Museum, Gloucester Folklife Festival, ReadBoston, Hammond Castle Museum, an annual Stage Fort Park community storytelling series with Alicia Quintano, and thousands of other appearances, in schools, day care centers, shelters, churches, libraries, nursing homes, housing projects, festivals, workshops and other settings. Audience reaction seems to confirm that I made the right decision. The story of my storytelling, I am very happy to say, is to be continued. A Few Background Facts Children’s Librarian Salem Public Library, Salem, MA, 1997-2002 Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester, MA, 1986-1990 Boston Public Library, Boston, MA, 1978-1984 Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore , MD, 1968-1978 Education Master of Library Science, University of Maryland, 1975. Course work included Storytelling and Children’s Literature. Bachelor of Arts, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA, 1967. Major in English. Storytelling workshop series led by Elizabeth Dunham, Cambridge, MA, 1985. Extensive independent study of children’s literature, folklore and storytelling. Member of National Storytelling Network League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling (LANES)

978-281-3524 • lepagelucille2@gmail.com • PO Box 512 Gloucester MA 01930