Grant Project Reports - 2001-2002
Grant Project descriptions by Library:
- Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery
- Crandall Public Library
- Gowanda Free Library
- Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
- New Rochelle Public Library
- New Woodstock Free Library
- The New York Public Library, The Branch Libraries
- Patterson Library
- James Prendergast Library Association
- Queens Borough Public Library
- Troy Public Library
- Henry Waldinger Memorial Library
- White Plains Public Library
Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery
Eric Trahan
(518) 673-2314
Presenting the Past: Children & Parents Experiencing History
Together
$8,115.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Parents and children learned area history through library and museum exhibits, programs, circulating study kits, creative writing activities, and oral history projects.
Needs Addressed:
To provide library programming incorporating school curriculum and using local history resources, to serve the 30% of the population that is educationally disadvantaged.
Target Audience:
Students in the Canajoharie Central School District along with their parents
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Canajoharie Parent-Teacher Association-helped plan and promote program
- Canajoharie Central School District-helped plan and promote program
- Museum Partners-developed exhibit with children's activity; assist in the development of a website; recommended library materials for purchase
- Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery Trustees-publicized and supported program
Specific Activities:
- Museum partners developed exhibits on: the Erie Canal, Sir William Johnson, the Palatine Immigrants, area schools, regional churches and the history of the library. Children's activities were incorporated into the exhibits.
- Programs, including writing workshops and historical characterizations, were presented for each exhibit.
- Oral histories and historic photographs were collected and videotaped.
- Collection development to support exhibit themes, and circulating kits were developed.
- Contents from exhibits were mounted in an electronic format, as web exhibits.
Staffing:
- Library Staff-132 hours
- Museum Partner Staff-60 hours
- Volunteers-79 hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services-$5,128.00
- Supplies and Materials-$3,174
- Additional Funds-$2,250.00
- In Kind Costs-$100.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- Six exhibits were developed with 79 children participating in the children's activities associated with each exhibit. Five family programs were presented with a total attendance of 161. Oral histories were collected from 6 community members. 125 books were purchased and circulation was 385, with three study guides.
- Qualitative
- anecdotal evidence on the exhibits and children's activities, and evaluation forms and exit interviews were used for family programs and the oral history component.
Changes/Recommendations:
Budget more time for the development of the web pages and the circulating kits. Have a firm schedule for the exhibits and the programs.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Services to School Age Children
- Projects Involving Technology
Crandall Public Library
Todd DeGarmo
(518) 792-6508 ext. 103
Backyards: Exploring Our Communities
$21,330.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Pre-teens, teenagers and parents, worked together to explore the local cultural landscape through the use of documentation technology and techniques. The local library reinforced their role as a community center for older youth and their families.
Needs Addressed:
Centered on three rural communities in three different counties, this project served families seeking cultural and learning activities.
Target Audience:
Pre-teens and older, with a parent/caregiver from the communities of: the town of Salem in Washington County, the village of Schuylerville in Saratoga County, and the village of Lake George in Warren County.
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Crandall Public Library, Children's Services-helped plan and write grant application
- Southern Adirondack Library System-helped plan and write grant application
- Salem's Bancroft Library-helped with local planning and recruitment and was involved in all aspects of the program
- Battenkill Conservancy-NY-offered preliminary audio workshop; potential future exhibition site and audio consultant
- Caldwell-Lake George Library- involved in all aspects of the program and is a potential future exhibition site
- Lake George Central School District-helped with local planning and recruitment and was involved in all aspects of the program
- Schuylerville Public Library-helped with local planning and recruitment and was involved in all aspects of the program
- Schuyler's Canal Visitors Center-involved with local planning; potential future exhibition site
Specific Activities:
- Purchased books and equipment to create fieldwork kits
- Recruited and trained 14 fieldwork teams through workshops on: camera & tape recorder primer, documentary photography and documentary sound recording
- Teams completed assignments and exhibited at four sites
Staffing:
Costs:
- Purchased Services- $4,122.21
- Supplies and Materials-$17,207.79
- Additional Funds-New York State Council on the Arts-Folk Art Program
- Backyards Book Boxes-$1,906.00
- Fieldwork Kits- $2,058.00
- Inkind Costs
- Project Director's time
- Workshop sites at Salem, Schuylerville, Lake George and the Crandall Public Library
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- Statistics were kept on number of youth and caregivers attending workshops; number of meeting with partners; books and equipment acquired by library; participants use of equipment.
- Qualitative
- Youth, caregivers and workshop leaders will provide written evaluations; response log at the four exhibition sites will collect audience opinion.
Changes/Recommendations:
- Timing, partly due to 9/11 and the lack of free time for youth and caregivers, contributed to recruitment and scheduling problems.
- Additional meetings, field trips, and increased interaction between local coordinators and fieldwork teams would help to keep the project focused.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Services to School Age Children
- Services to Young Adults
- Learning Kits
Gowanda Free Library
Jeanne Glende
(716) 532-3451
United We'll Stand for No More Violence
$7,707.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
An essay contest, Teen/Parent discussion group, an author visit, and presentations by community partners addressed consequences of violent acts.
Needs Addressed:
Due to the proximity to a town that had residents planning a violent act, the library and community partners felt the need to educate teens and their parents on violence.
Target Audience:
High school students and their parents
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Gowanda Police Department-involved in planning and presented a program on emergencies in the schools
- Gowanda Fire and Rescue Squad-presented a program on CPR
- New York State Correctional Facility-presented a program on prison life
- New York State Troopers-suggested resources and presented a program on gun safety
- Village of Gowanda-publicity
- Gowanda Central School System-location for author visit
Specific Activities:
- Acquisition of books and videos on violence
- Development of a bibliography and a webliography on violence
- Presented five workshops
- Two authors talked about their works at the local high school
- Students entered an essay contest and won prizes
- Coupons for stress balls were handed out at the high school and redeemed at the library
Staffing:
- Library staff-120 hours
- Project staff-6 to 10 hours
Costs:
- Salaries for Professional Staff-$120.00
- Salaries for Support Staff-$60.00
- Purchased Services-$1,000.00
- Supplies and Materials-$4,039.00
- Equipment-$2,711.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 88 teens and parents attended the five programs. 5 teens were involved in the essay contest. 125 books and videos were purchased and circulation was 200. 410 pamphlets were circulated to the schools and community agencies.
- Qualitative
- evaluative surveys were completed after each program.
Changes/Recommendations:
Increasing school involvement through communication and frequent contacts with faculty members is essential. Involving the school in initial planning stage and having the school be responsible for part of the project may ensure student involvement.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Services to Young Adults
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library
Suzanne McAllister
(716) 798-3430
S.H.A.R.E. - Students Having Adults Read Everyday
$7,650.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
In its second year of grant funding, this library based one on one reading program for remedial readers in 1st and 2nd grades, focused on the crucial parental involvement necessary for reading skills to develop.
Needs Addressed:
Targeted children were from households with single parents on public assistance, limited English proficiency or teenage parents. In assessing the project, it was determined that more parental involvement was necessary.
Target Audience:
10 children and their parents identified by their classroom and reading teachers as being in need of remedial/supplemental reading assistance
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Medina Central School District-provided statistics in support of grant application, provided transportation to the library twice a month
- Towne Elementary School-involved in planning stages, identified students, recommended teacher aide, assisted with volunteer recruitment, and evaluated pre and post reading tests
- Nioga Library System-involved in planning stages, provided support in materials selection, disseminated grant results and hosted workshop on the project for school and public librarians
- Lee-Whedon Memorial Library Board of Trustees-involved in planning, and made recommendations for future grant proposals
Specific Activities:
- Volunteers were recruited to act as reading mentors
- Book kits were developed that included a lesson plan, books, puppets, games and other manipulatives. Tutors and students used these kits in their bimonthly sessions
- Training sessions for both the parents and the tutors
- 8 Parent/child workshops were presented on educational and entertaining topics
- Students checked out story kits after each tutoring session
Staffing:
- Library Staff-350 hours
- Project Staff-200 hours
- Partnership Staff-42 hours
- Volunteers-300 hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services - $3,400.00
- Supplies and Materials - $4,249.74
- Cooperating Agencies - $2,060.00
- In-Kind Costs - $9,641.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 36 workshops/programs with 95 participants; 216 materials circulated; pre and post reading tests
- Qualitative
- evaluation forms completed by all partnering agencies
Changes/Recommendations:
Suggestions for maintaining parental involvement included a food budget for the workshops and having the parents assist with the SHARE sessions during the year.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Parent Education
- Services to School Age Children
- Services to Low Income Families
- Services to Underachieving School Children
- Learning Kits
New Rochelle Public Library
Kathleen Cronin
(914) 632-7878 ext. 36
Extending the Parent-Child Workshop: Serving New Populations
$34,981.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Expanding on a previous grant, parent-child workshops developed in conjunction with community agencies focused on the needs of low literate, teen, and bilingual parents.
Needs Addressed:
Parent/Child workshops educate parents in the developmental stages of a child, parenting skills and early learning activities.
Target Audience:
Immigrants, minorities and the poor, natural beneficiaries of these workshops, were reached through partnerships with community agencies.
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Westchester Jewish Community Services' Child Home Project-identified parenting needs; recruitment and evaluation
- Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Clinic-identified parenting needs; recruitment and evaluation
- White Plains Youth Bureau's Teen Parenting Program-identified parenting needs; recruitment and evaluation
- Ossining Community Action Program-identified parenting needs; recruitment and evaluation
- Westchester Jewish Community Services Program-identified parenting needs; recruitment and evaluation
Specific Activities:
- 5 libraries and their collaborating agency attending a cross-professional training workshop outlining the structure of a parent/child workshop, suggestions from the project's early childhood specialist, and reviewed ideas for successful collaborations.
- Materials purchased with advise from participating community agencies to create a family-centered resource collection in each of the five public libraries.
- Parent/Child workshops conducted in each library including developmentally appropriate toys and activities, and professionals in early childhood issues for parent education.
- A staff development program for other children's librarians on replicating the parent/child workshop model and collaboration with community agencies.
Staffing:
- Library Staff-300 hours
- Project Staff-120 hours
- Cooperating Agencies-150 hours
Costs:
- · Supplies and Materials - $27,604.00
- · Purchased Services -$2,396.00
- · Travel Expenses - $1,747.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 15 staff members and participating community agencies staff attended a cross-professional training workshop; 35 workshops were presented in participating libraries with 35 guest speakers; 710 parents were served; 12 Westchester librarians attended a training workshop on replicating the parent/child model
- Qualitative
- evaluations completed by workshop participants, community agencies and library staff
Changes/Recommendations:
Consultation with community agencies provided valuable insight into appropriate scheduling for targeted population.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Parent Education
- Services to Low Income Families
- Service to Foreign Language Speaking Families
- Services to Teen Parents
- Literacy Programs
New Woodstock Free Library
Charles B. Shatzkin
(315) 415-1718
Raising a Community of E-Book Readers
$10,000.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Middle school students and their parents participated in a pilot program using electronic books to foster reading and technology use.
Needs Addressed:
Library circulation statistics show a significant drop in book borrowing by the 10-14 age group. Using e-books and having parent/child pairs will promote reading through the use of leading edge technology.
Target Audience:
Middle school students and their parents
Community Partners and their Roles:
- New Woodstock Free Library-develop and plan project, supervise activities, evaluate results
- Mid-York Library System-advise and provide technical support, evaluation forms, catalog materials
- Cazenovia Public Library-host training sessions, loan materials, evaluate
- Cazenovia Middle School-promote program, host training sessions, evaluate
- Board of Trustees-provide continuing support of project goals
Specific Activities:
Evaluation and purchase of Windows CE based personal digital assistants (pda). Program was first promoted to the homeschooling community and then to the public schools. Training sessions targeted 2-3 students with their parents and allowed each group to have the readers for 3-4 weeks. A combination of evaluation tools was used to monitor both children and parent reaction to the e-books.
Staffing:
- Project Director - 80+ hours
- Project Leader - 100+ hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services - $100.00
- Salaries for Professional Staff - $4,250.00
- Supplies and Materials - $800.00
- Equipment - $4,764.77
- Travel Expenses - $150.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 3 participating sites; with 13 training sessions; 32 participating students and parents; 34 e-books circulated, each with 12 stories
- Qualitative
- evaluations from the students, parents and the staff circulating the materials
Changes/Recommendations:
E-book readers were surprisingly expensive. The pda's purchased had smaller screen size than e-book readers, however they had additional capabilities. The purchase of additional RAM memory modules allowed staff to load the entire reading list onto the e-books, eliminating the time required for emptying the pda memory and loading titles. Encouraging middle school students to read involved parents and teachers in a structured program.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Parent Education
- Projects Involving Technology
- Services to School Age Children
The New York Public Library, The Branch Libraries
Margaret Tice
(212) 340-0903
After-School Science PLUS at The New York Public Library
$45,000.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Educational Equity Concepts (EEC) trained public children's librarians on how to conduct fun, hands-on science activities for children ages 6-12. Staff learned how to carry out inquiry-based science activities, extend these activities for literacy programs, group management techniques, strategies for involving parents and resources promoting bias-free learning.
Needs Addressed:
American students' performance in science and math is extremely low and women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in science and engineering fields. Due to the diversity of New York City and the poor state of public education, the library is providing this after school enrichment program.
Target Audience:
Children ages 6-12 and their parents or caregivers in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Educational Equity Concepts (EEC)-developed curriculum, conducted training workshops, evaluation, and created bins of materials for the workshops
Specific Activities:
EEC conducted three training workshops for children's librarians. Library staff developed science collections and purchased educational bins from EEC. Designed and produced brochure advertising program. Translated introductory letters into Chinese. Presented workshops in the branches and evaluated activities.
Staffing:
- Library Staff - 445 hours
- Training Workshops and Presenting Programs - 628 hours
- EEC staff - 35 hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services - $11,157.50
- Supplies and Materials - $33,842.50
- In-kind costs - $3,000.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 30 participating sites; 85 number of workshops presented; 1,183 total number of workshop participants; 806 library books circulated and 50,000 brochures distributed
- Qualitative
- surveys distributed to participating librarians, children and parent/caregivers
Changes/Recommendations:
An EEC staff person should visit each branch after the training workshop to provide individualized reassurance and suggestions on how to implement the program. Participating parents need to be encouraged to replicate the experiments at home.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Services to Foreign Language Speaking Families
- Services to School Age Children
Patterson Library
Deborah R. Williams
(716) 326-2154
Growing Minds
$9,824.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Through the expansion of collections and programs, the library provided valuable resources to expectant and post-partum mothers and their children.
Needs Addressed:
Town of Westfield has a high incidence of infant mortality, low birth weight and premature births, late entry into prenatal care, unmarried parents, teen pregnancies and poverty. Due to inadequate childbirth education opportunities, the library will provide a much-needed resource on birth and child raising issues.
Target Audience:
Expectant parents, women and children serviced by the Westfield WIC site, and the area's general population of parents and preschool children.
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Success by Six-defined need and publicized program through publications and website
- Westfield Area Family Practitioners-defined need, sites for book collections, promoted program, and evaluated usefulness of deposit collections
- Westfield Memorial Hospital-promotion through their childbirth preparation classes, distributed "Books for Babies" materials to new mothers, suggested materials, evaluated library staff presentation
- WIC (Women, Infants, Children)-provided statistical information, distributed information and evaluation
Specific Activities:
Attended a meeting that discussed the results of the Success by Six project. Library recruited two volunteers to prepare a 20-minute presentation for the childbirth preparation classes at the hospital. Staff members distributed library information and a children's book to expectant mothers. WIC nurse distributed information and library information and a children's book to new mothers. Library provided 5 hourly sessions of "Music & Your Unborn Child" and 16 sessions of "Music Babies" and "Music Toddlers", designed to stimulate language development. Provided deposit collections in six waiting rooms of area health care providers. Library provided 200 "Books for Babies" bags for new mothers at Westfield Memorial Hospital.
Staffing:
- Library Staff - 100 hours
- Project Staff - 155 hours
- Partnership Staff - 98 hours
- Volunteers - 15 hours
Costs:
- Salaries for Professional Staff - $1,160.00
- Purchased Services - $1,928.00
- Supplies and Materials - $6,653.00
- In-Kind Costs - $2,225.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 8 participating sites; 57 hours of service per week; 341 total number of users; 25 number of workshops; 141 workshop participants; 566 materials circulated and 3,550 number of materials distributed
- Qualitative
- survey of parents, partners, and library staff.
Changes/Recommendations:
Presentations at the hospital's childbirth preparation class were an excellent way of informing parents of the library's resources and programs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The prenatal music class was poorly attended due to timing and the lack of education about the benefits of these classes.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Parent Education
- Services to Children Under Three-Babies and Toddler Programs
- Services to Teen Parents
- Services to Low Income Families
James Prendergast Library Association
Camille Guinnane
(716) 484-7135 ext. 234
Parent II: Parents are Reading Educators, Nurturing Teachers 2
$18,120.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
In its second year of grant funding, pre-literacy reading packets expanded to include a Spanish language version, special needs such as common speech problems, and behavioral and emotional issues. Lessons were designed to foster parental involvement in the development of proficient readers.
Needs Addressed:
Several needs were identified as having an impact on a child's receptiveness to learning. Working with their partners, packets were designed to address behavioral and emotional issues, common speech problems, and Spanish language versions of the materials. Additional packets for each age group would provide a depth of material for the whole year.
Target Audience:
Parents of children ages 6 and younger and their children. Parents involved in Head Start, teenage parents, Hispanic parents, parents enrolled in the city schools PACERS program and parents of children with speech problems were targeted.
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Extra Edge-created the concept of the lesson packets and recruited qualified instructors to design the packets
- TEAM (Teenage Education and Motherhood)-distributed and evaluated lesson packets
- Southern Chautauqua County Head Start-distributed and evaluated lesson packets
- Jamestown Community Learning Council-involved in the planning of the project
- Jamestown School District-planned and used the packets with their PACER program, evaluated results
- Chautauqua County Health Department-involved with planning and used the packets in their programs
Specific Activities:
- A total of 93 lesson packets were developed to used with children from: birth to age 1, ages 1-2, age 3, age 4, and age 5; all focusing on age-appropriate reading-readiness skills
- 29 lesson packets based on the 26 letters of the alphabet and the five short and long vowels were designed to assist with letter recognition and phonetic awareness
- 20 special needs reading packets were developed focusing on common speech problems and behavioral and emotional issues
- 13 Spanish language packets were developed using both print and audio materials
- Packets and masters of printed packet materials were distributed to participating agencies and interested groups
- Purchased books for booklists and created bibliographies for each packet
- PACER families attended a library program to introduce the library habit
- Promotion through bookmarks, posters and the publication of an article in the Chautauqua County's Fall 2002 Young Child Magazine
- Packet information was converted to computer disks and showcased on the library's website
Staffing:
- Library Staff-8 hours/weekly
- Project Staff-20 hours/week
- Volunteers-36 hours
- Cooperating Agencies-112 hours assembling packets and 4310 hours of packets presentations
Costs:
- Salaries and Benefits - $5,049.00
- Purchased Services - $8,200.00
- Supplies and Materials - $4,878.00
- Additional Funds - $5,840.05
- In-Kind Costs - $100,148.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 197 packets and 3 sets of packet masters were assembled and distributed to agencies
- 5006 packets were used by families
- 429 booklist books were borrowed
- 628 1-on-1 parent introduction for first-time users of packets
- 3 workshops to assist partnering agencies in making their packets
- 123 parents and children attended the family library night program
- Qualitative
- project activities partners evaluated the packets; participating families completed evaluations; the Director and Coordinator of the PARENT project evaluated the whole project
Changes/Recommendations:
Additional time to duplicate packets and order materials. One on one presentations to families worked effectively to advertise the program. Determine an evaluative method to chart the development of reading-readiness skills through the use of the packets.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Parent Education
- Kindergarten Readiness
- Services to Teen Parents
- Parent/Preschool Programs
- Learning Kits
- Services to Newborn and Toddlers
- Services to Preschoolers
Queens Borough Public Library
Rosanne Cerny
(718) 990-0716
Prescription for Success
$39,400.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Promoting family literacy and providing basic information to new parents, The Queens Library and the Queens Health Network collaborated to provide parents with a Welcome Baby kit and access to library programs through video conferencing capabilities.
Needs Addressed:
Queens Health Network serves an ethnically diverse population with lower incomes. Recent immigrants and the working poor would benefit from information presented in Basic English and through videotape.
Target Audience:
The expectant parents served in the Queens Health Network
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Queens Health Network-planning, program implementation, cost sharing and evaluation
Specific Activities:
Research and writing of print materials to distribute to expectant parents. Bags, bibs and paperbacks were purchased and assembled into packets. Programs on pediatrician concerns via VTC and a video of the "Baby Babble" lapsit program were produced.
Staffing:
- Library Staff-183 hours
- Partnership Staff-25 hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services - $23,600.00
- Supplies and Materials - $13,670.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 3 participating sites; 4,900 total number of users served; 8 workshops/programs presented; 128 workshop participants and 5,000 materials distributed
- Qualitative
- evaluations and feedback from parents, participating agency and library staff
Changes/Recommendations
Important to clearly define roles of participating agencies, find alternative ways to involve peripheral players. Time frame was greater than anticipated, suggest a two-year time frame.
Categories of Service:
- Literacy Programs
- Parent Education
- Services to Children Under Three-Infants
- Services to Low Income Families
- Services to Foreign Language Speaking Families
Troy Public Library
Kim Kniele
(518) 274-7071
You Can't Judge a Book By Its Movie
$4,000.00
2001-2002
Brief Project History:
Parent and middle school students book discussion groups focused on books made into movies and supplemented by art and music programs.
Needs Addressed:
The lack of library programming for middle school aged children.
Target Audience:
Young adults, or "tweens," and their parents
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Troy Public Library-program implementation, staff for book discussions, evaluation
- Lansingburgh Branch of the Troy Public Library-site for book discussions, promotion
- Brunswick Community Library-site for book discussions, promotion
- Stephentown Library-site for book discussions, promotion
- North Greenbush Library-site for book discussions, promotion
- Dreamworks Production-promotional materials
Specific Activities:
Purchase of books for discussion groups and planning programs. Promotion and implementation of book discussion groups and programs. Books were chosen around movies that have been filmed in the Troy area and parents were encouraged to participate. Evaluation of the project.
Staffing:
- Library Staff-125 hours
- Project Staff-100 hours
- Cooperating Agency Staff-24 hours
Costs:
- Salaries for Support Staff - $1,014.00
- Purchased Services - $1,675.00
- Supplies and Materials - $1,085.00
- Travel Expenses - $50.00
- Employee Benefits - $176.00
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 6 participating sites, 29 workshops/programs with 324 participants
- Qualitative
- evaluation forms filled out by participants, anecdotal comments collected by library staff
Changes/Recommendations:
Programs should reflect book-related interests such as author visits and writing programs. Flexibility with participants input on title selection for book discussion groups.
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Literacy Programs
- Services to Young Adults
Henry Waldinger Memorial Library
Mamie Eng
(516) 825-6422
Parents as Internet Partners: Helping Parents Help Their Children
$6,650.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
An instructional website, a brochure, training sessions, and collection development helped parents use the Internet with their children as an educational tool.
Needs Addressed:
Based on numerous questions from parents about the Internet, using the Internet effectively, and good websites for children, this project helped parents develop online skills.
Target Audience:
The parents of the approximately 8,500 students enrolled in the community schools.
Community Partners and their Roles:
- Youth Services Manager, Nassau Library System-involved in planning; suggestions for website and brochure; promotion and evaluation
- Head of Media Services, Nassau Library System-made recommendations for video acquisitions and provided feedback
- School Media Specialists in four schools-provided statistical information; suggestions on training topics and content for website/brochure; provided feedback on entire project
- PTA Groups from six schools-suggestions on training programs and Internet issues; helped with scheduling and promotion; and provided feedback on the entire project
- Library Trustees-provided support and encouragement for the project; promoted the project and provided feedback
Specific Activities:
- Creation of an instructional website
- Creation of an instructional brochure to accompany the website
- Created a bookmark to publicize website
- Presented five training programs for parents
- Developed a collection of Internet books and videos
Staffing:
- Library Staff-315 hours
- Volunteer Staff-20 hours
- Cooperating Agency Staff-7.5 hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services - $1,080.00
- Supplies and Materials - $2,954.28
- Equipment - $2,625.64
- Additional Funds - $217.50
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- Completion of one instructional website
- 570 copies of an instructional brochure and 2,000 promotional bookmarks
- Five training programs with 65 parents and 10 children attending
- over 110 Internet books and videos added to the collection
- Qualitative
- positive feedback from parents, PTA groups, school library media specialists, and the Nassau Library System members on the website, brochure, and training programs
Changes/Recommendations:
A time limit should be set for the review and evaluation of the website. Assistance from the school library media specialists in evaluating and reviewing sources. Promote training programs to PTA groups at the end of the previous school year to ensure open times in their meeting schedule.
Categories of Service:
- Parent Education
- Projects Involving Technology
White Plains Public Library
Raquel Cavalcanti
(914) 422-1499
Read, Baby, Read
$6,050.00
2001-2002
Brief Project Description:
Outreach bilingual library programs demonstrated tips on reading to young infants and preschoolers and registering for new library cards. Packets distributed included a bilingual tip sheet on how to read to young children, a suggested booklist, a board book, a parenting book and a sippy cup. A final "Baby Shower" celebration was held at the library.
Needs Addressed:
The infant birth rate has been steadily rising in the Hispanic community. This program encouraged new families to read to their babies and become aware of library's resources.
Target Audience:
Families with infant and preschool children who were not traditional library users
Community Partners and their Roles:
- YWCA-identified families, provided site for outreach visits and evaluations
- White Plains Hospital Center-identified families
- The Early Learning Center-identified families and evaluations
- Westchester Jewish Community Services-identified families and evaluations
- Parents Place-identified families, provided site for outreach visits and evaluations
Specific Activities:
Ordered materials; translation of printed materials; 3 outreach bilingual programs that included music and storytelling; 2 Baby Shower parties were held at the library; at the White Plains Hospital "Baby Talk" Fair the library booth handed out gift bags and calendars
Staffing:
- Children's Librarian-68 hours
- Project Librarian-30 hours
- Early Childhood Specialist-3 hours
- Bilingual Consultant-15 hours
- Early Childhood Performer-2 hours
- Cooperating Agency Staff-10 hours
Costs:
- Purchased Services-$2,000.00
- Supplies and Materials-$4,050.00
- In-Kind Costs-$754.77
Evaluation:
- Quantitative
- 5 participating sites; 142 hours of service per week; 824 total number of users; 18 workshops/programs; 483 bags of materials distributed
- Qualitative
- bilingual evaluations
Categories of Service:
- Family Programs
- Literacy Programs
- Parent Education
- Services to Children Under Three
- Services to Foreign Language Speaking Families