Reviewed by Tammy Scarbrough.  

This website is designed to promote the power of storytelling and to use its creative applications to build a better world. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a program of public awareness, knowledge, and learning about storytelling. Jimmy Neil Smith, a former journalism teacher and mayor of Jonesborough, Tennessee, created the Foundation. It was initially called the National Storytelling Association and was created in 1975. There is no indication of when the site was created but a link to news updates reveals that it has been updated as recently as May 2001. Contact information is readily available by clicking on the large Contact button on each page of the site. This information includes e-mail addresses for each of the board members, as well as the physical address of the foundation and telephone and fax numbers. Viewers may also request to be added to the newsletter mailing list.

The Storytelling Foundation focuses on four areas of interest in applications of storytelling: health and healing, conflict prevention and resolution, leadership and management, and children, youth, and families. Each area of interest describes how the foundation uses storytelling to address the issues and provides a success story. A bibliography in the leadership and management section is provided to demonstrate the power of storytelling in the workplace.

A link is also provided for the Storytelling Festival itself, which is still being held every year in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Viewers are able to find information about the upcoming festival including the tellers who will be featured or they may choose to pre-register for the festival.

The Smithsonian has chosen to become an affiliate of Storytelling Foundation International and the site details plans for their new facility, which will be located in Jonesborough and will provide storytellers with excellent resources.

Reviewed By Deborah Drake

This is the homepage of the Storytelling Foundation International, which is also the author/publisher. The Storytelling Foundation International is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and its Jonesborough International Storytelling Center has partnered with the Library of Congress, both of which speak to the validity, reliability, and trustworthiness of this site. Information presented is factual and clear, with consistently valid links.

The documented shows to be last revised on February 28, 2002 The references listed are current and include upcoming news and events. The information included in this site is valuable and presented in a colorful and interesting format. It includes wonderful graphics and thumbnail photos of places and events of interest to storytellers and festivalgoers, such as historic Jonesborough, Tennessee, the National Storytelling Festival, and the National Storytelling Center. The homepage is complete with links to additional information about the Storytelling Foundation, Storytelling Center, Creative applications, services, resources, festival, and news.

This website loads very quickly and is stable. It does not require registration or a fee to access. The only software requirement is "Quick-Time 3.0 to view a digital story about the Festival.

I found this to be a very informative website, especially for anyone interested in storytelling and those planning on attending the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough.