One of Six Teams and the Only Library Selected, BPL to Create Educational Audio Content for Young Children
Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Public Library has been selected for the Ready To Learn Podcast Accelerator program from PRX, PBS KIDS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The Library was selected via a highly competitive process open to audio producers in the U.S. and is the only library system among the six teams participating.
The Ready To Learn Podcast Accelerator is a podcast training and development program for producers creating new educational content for children ages 4–8. The program is a component of the new CPB-PBS Ready To Learn Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Content developed in this program will encourage parents and caregivers to support their children’s interests and introduce them to the world of work and future careers.
Borrowed producer Virginia Marshall, formerly of WBUR, will lead the library’s team. She will be joined by performer and school outreach librarian Sheneatha Frison, and children’s librarian Rachel Tiemann to develop Book Adventures. The podcast will introduce a wide range of fun topics, including what it might be like to be a brain surgeon or a game designer.
The training program will take place virtually over 16 weeks from June through September 2021. An extensive curriculum developed by PRX and project partners at PBS KIDS and CPB will help BPL develop a pilot episode and production plan, build processes and skills, and form a community among fellow creators. In addition to regular feedback on all aspects of production via a variety of workshops and intensive sessions, BPL will also receive a $10,000 stipend to assist with production and operational expenses.
Participants may have their pilot podcasts selected for distribution on PBS KIDS digital platforms. Following the training period, PBS KIDS plans to commission more content from one of the six participating podcast teams. In addition, participants will have access to and representation on PRX’s industry-leading podcast distribution and advertising platforms.
“We are thrilled to have been selected for the Ready To Learn podcast accelerator program, and can’t wait to begin developing Book Adventures to complement Borrowed, our podcast for adults. With the experience of our children’s librarians and the esteemed public media producers, we truly can’t imagine a better team,” said Nick Higgins, BPL Chief Librarian.
The Library’s thriving suite of audio programming currently includes the flagship podcast Borrowed and Our Streets Our Stories, an extensive Brooklyn-based oral history collection.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
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