The Art of Storytelling (AOS) is more than just a series of workshops or an international festival day. It is an opportunity for library staff and the international exchange partner to work alongside each other and bring back to their respective libraries new ideas that can be incorporated into making the patron’s library experience even better.

On November 6, 2007, Library Director Raymond Santiago and two members of the Library System’s executive staff paid a visit to the Medellin Library System - the Art of Storytelling’s 2008 international exchange partner. The delegation spent two days visiting library branches in the communities of San Javier and Santo Domingo Sabio in addition to public schools where they met with staffers and city officials. At Los Parques Biblioteca, they shared information about Miami-Dade Public Library System programs and discussed ways in which both library systems could partner to enhance services to their respective patrons.

In February 2008, three staff members from Miami-Dade Public Library System traveled to Medellin to share experiences regarding outreach, collection development, finances, automation, dealing with diversity, etc. This was done through workshops, panel discussions, and visiting library branches. During their visit, Ailyn Carrion, Yudit Lam and Carmen Centeno presented workshops to more than 200 staffers on subjects such as the Management of Libraries; programs for Babies through Teens; and library automation.

The final component of the international exchange program was when the Library System welcomed the Medellin delegation to our community. Their week-long visit began on April 27 with a full schedule of branch tours, events and programs – all culminating with the Art of Storytelling International Festival Day on Saturday, May 3rd.