Digital storytelling blends narrative with multimedia—text, images, audio, and video—to help students craft meaningful, expressive stories using tools that reflect how they learn and communicate today. In the secondary school library, librarians are uniquely positioned to guide students in harnessing this dynamic approach to learning, creativity, and digital literacy. It’s not just about using technology—it’s about using it purposefully to elevate student voice, foster identity exploration, and build essential literacies in inclusive, engaging ways.
Why Digital Storytelling Matters in the Secondary Library
Once we recognize the potential of digital storytelling, it’s worth exploring why it belongs in the secondary library. This practice not only supports creativity but also strengthens core literacies and fosters inclusive learning environments. Here are four reasons why digital storytelling is a powerful fit for secondary librarians:
- Fosters 21st-Century Literacies
Digital storytelling nurtures digital, visual, media, and information literacy. Students engage deeply with content as they research, curate media, and assemble narratives. The Association of College & Research Libraries highlights how digital storytelling amplifies multiple literacies beyond text alone. - Empowers Student Voice
Sharing personal or community stories builds identity and confidence. Digital tools democratize storytelling—making students agents of their own narratives. - Enables Differentiation and Inclusion
With diverse learners, including English language learners, digital storytelling enables students to communicate in visual and auditory ways, thereby enhancing comprehension and engagement. - Strengthens Media and Visual Literacy
Understanding how media shapes meaning is critical. Projects like Inanimate Alice—a multimodal narrative—show how storytelling blends media to build cultural and emotional literacy. Meanwhile, frameworks around visual literacy help students critically create and analyze visual narratives.
These benefits make digital storytelling more than a creative outlet—they position it as a strategic, student-centered practice that aligns with the library’s mission to support all learners.
Practical Strategies for School Librarians
Secondary librarians already champion literacy, access, and inclusion. By integrating digital storytelling strategies into their practice, they become even more powerful allies in helping students express themselves, build essential skills, and connect with their learning in meaningful ways. Here are four strategies to bring digital storytelling to life in your library:
- Make the Library a Digital Story Hub
- Offer access to multimedia tools—cameras, microphones, scanners—to support content creation.
- Make space for quiet work or collaborative brainstorming. (Informal peer critique sessions build confidence and help students revise as they go.)
- Provide Structured Support with The Seven Elements Framework
- Introduce students to the Center for Digital Storytelling’s Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling to give structure and clarity to their storytelling process.
- Create simple templates or planning guides based on these elements for students to draft scripts or storyboards.
- Curate and Teach Digital Tools
- Introduce platforms like Adobe Express for Education (reviewed here), Canva for Education (reviewed here), Animoto (reviewed here), and BookCreator (reviewed here) for creating engaging media. These tools simplify video, animation, and storytelling workflows. Canva for Education and BookCreator support video and infographic creation with curriculum-aligned templates.
- Leverage Media Literacy Resources
- Tap into Project Look Sharp, which offers free, standards-aligned media literacy lessons and professional development for librarians.
- Find more media literacy integration ideas in the NYSED Media Literacy Toolkit for Educators.
Supporting digital storytelling transforms the secondary library into a creative nexus—where narrative, media, and critical thinking converge. By blending tools, frameworks, and collaborative spaces, librarians empower students to craft meaningful stories and build essential literacies. In embracing this practice, librarians become facilitators of authentic expression and inclusive learning. Whether you’re just beginning or already experimenting, your library can be a launchpad for stories that matter—stories that foster connection, deepen literacy, and celebrate every learner’s voice. As always, check out TeachersFirst for resources and blog posts to support your digital storytelling journey.