St. Vrain Valley Storytellers

In 2001, Sandra Pendergraff, Head of Children’s and Teen Services for the Longmont Library, created Longmont Library Spellbinders (LLS). LLS was under the sponsorship of Spellbinders, a national organization that puts senior volunteer storytellers in classrooms with elementary schoolchildren, and received its charter in October 2006. That partnership continued for almost twenty years as the local Spellbinders group grew and thrived at the Longmont Library.

In April 2021, Longmont Library Spellbinders became St. Vrain Valley Storytellers (SVVS), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The chapter is dedicated to the principles of community involvement and promoting literacy through storytelling and still brings the art and joy of oral storytelling to students in St. Vrain Valley Schools.

SVVS remains true to its principles as it serves 19 schools monthly throughout the St. Vrain School District and members tell in three senior facilities and support two local organizations regularly. Members also tell in a variety of other venues when asked.

From its beginning with five founding members, SVVS has grown to its current membership of 45 active storytellers. As a thriving group, SVVS continues to expand both its membership and the community area it serves.