State Library Awards Year 2003 Parent and Child Library Services Grants
September 2003
Public libraries across the state will be getting some help from the New York State Library for child and family literacy programs. New York State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for Libraries Janet M. Welch announced today that the New York State Library has awarded $300,000 in 2003-04 state funds for competitive Parent and Child Library Services Grants to 18 public libraries across the State.
"Parent and Child Library Services Grants offer important opportunities for families to broaden their horizons through education and literacy programs available through their public libraries. These grants allow libraries to create a wide variety of programs focusing on parents and children learning together and sharing the educational experience," commented Mrs. Welch.
The grant projects will offer library-based reading and parenting classes including storytimes, book discussion groups, computer training workshops, and much more. The libraries will partner with various community education and service agencies during the grant year. This year's programs include: parenting workshops, an education and career fair, a Bonding with Baby program, bilingual literacy workshops, a family festival, in-service training for daycare staff, and more.
The New York State Library is part of the New York State Education Department. Please contact Anne Simon, the State Library's Youth Services and Family Literacy Specialist, at (518) 486-2194 or at asimon@mail.nysed.gov for more information on the Parent and Child Library Services Grant Program. Allegany Public Library (Cattaraugus County) $7,445 - The First Seven Years. Literacy materials and parenting workshops will be offered to low-income families with children ages 7 and under. Collaborating with Even Start, the library will provide an outreach collection at Even Start's location. Even Start teachers will demonstrate material selection and provide a monthly parenting program at the library. Children and parents will be exposed to educational software as well as story enhancement activities.
Belmont Literary & Historical Free Library (Allegany) $14,280 - Story Teller/Audio/ Read-aloud (STAR) Grant. STAR will reach children preschool through third grade, their families, child caregivers and teachers. Using a multi-sensory approach to family literacy, materials will be provided in unabridged audio format, big books, puppets and flannel storyboards. Work Study students from local colleges will provide storytimes at outreach locations.
Brooklyn Public Library (Kings) $36,280 - Choices for Your Future: A Workshop Series for Young Adults. Young adults and their parents recruited from a variety of community organizations will attend a series of workshops focusing on life choices. Workshop content will be determined by focus groups consisting of young adults' parents and Brooklyn Public Library staff. The workshop series will culminate with an Education and Careers for Young Adults Fair.
Field Library, Peekskill (Westchester) $10,053 - Parents as Learning Partners. First and second graders with their parents will attend literacy-based workshops centered on the English Language Arts New York State Learning Standard. Parents will observe model learning techniques and attend EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) workshops on school readiness. Senior citizen volunteers will assist children with educational concepts and serve as "Reading Game Buddies" during the library's 2004 Summer Reading Program.
Geneva Free Library (Ontario) $17,584 - Wee Read Together. Outreach to four child development centers will include storytimes, hands-on activities, special family programs and in-service trainings. Storytimes will include bilingual activities and story-stretching arts and crafts. In-service training for daycare staff will focus on literacy material selections and read aloud techniques. Activities and resources will improve kindergarten readiness and increase staff knowledge of literacy and library services.
Greater Poughkeepsie Public Library District (Dutchess) $20,680 - Familias & La Biblioteca. Low-income Spanish speaking immigrant families will improve their literacy skills and become knowledgeable about library services. Five Parent/Child Workshop sessions will be facilitated by a bilingual resource professional. Parents will be able to ask parenting questions and receive information about local health services. A Bonding with Baby program and Hear and Say program will model read aloud techniques and tips on how to share books with babies and toddlers.
Guilderland Public Library (Albany) $11,312 - Reading Connections @ The Guilderland Public Library: Linking Parents and Teens. The Guilderland young adult librarian and Farnsworth Middle School librarians will facilitate teen and parent book discussion groups. Contemporary themes will be addressed by using quality young adult literature. School counselors and social workers will help facilitate discussions of sensitive topics. Internet "chat forums" will be open to all participants. The project will culminate with a visit from the author of one of the featured books.
Hempstead Public Library (Nassau) $17,262 - El Centro de Informacion Para los Padres y los Ninos: Information Center for Parents and Children. Spanish speaking families will attend bilingual storytimes, presentations on community information resources and computer training workshops. The Hempstead Library web site will be translated into Spanish and the book collection will be expanded with bilingual titles. A family festival, "El dia de los ninos/ El dia de los libros," will feature a well-known, multi-lingual storyteller.
James Prendergast Library, Jamestown (Chautauqua) $15,544 - Telling Stories: Bringing Library Services into the Community. Families enrolled in the Jamestown Public School's PACERS (Parents Activating Children's Early Readiness Skills) program and Even Start will have access to library materials and a preschool story time. Volunteers will present story times through out the year at six different sites. 40 story time kits will be created for community child-care agencies. Audio materials and puzzles will provide literacy enhancement activities.
The New York Public Library, The Branch Libraries (Bronx, New York & Richmond) $34,999 - Children Together: Developing Inclusive Programs for Children & Their Caregivers. Special needs children and their caregivers will benefit from staff training on inclusive children's programming. Two focus groups will solicit input from parents on their information needs and what library services will benefit their children. Parenting collections and children's collections will be updated in the 80 branch libraries.
North Tonawanda Public Library (Niagara) $16,945 - Working the Web: Internet Instruction for Parents & Children. Internet courses for parents and children will be offered at the library and two outreach locations. Curriculum will include basic computer/mouse use, accessing the Internet, general research skills, recommended web sites, and Internet safety tips. Parent and child participants will receive a copy of course materials and a bibliography of books on Internet use.
Olean Public Library (Cattaraugus) $13,698 - Investigation Stations. The Olean Public Library in partnership with the Olean Child Daycare Center will develop hands-on discovery learning centers modeled on the Multiple Intelligences Theory. These learning centers along with interactive programming will develop early literacy competencies in three and four year old children. Parents will attend workshops on Multiple Intelligences Theory and be on a planning committee for the duration of the project.
Oneida Public Library (Madison) $12,800 - Sharing the Wealth: A Total Literacy Campaign. Oneida Public Library, working in cooperation with Canastota, Sherrill-Kenwood, and Vernon Public Libraries, will help families with low-literacy skills develop a positive attitude towards reading and school. Adults will be introduced to the electronic library catalog and the computer lab and given pointers on how to help your child succeed in school. A preschool story hour and a Family Reading Time will incorporate storytelling with story enhancement activities. After school mentoring will provide one-on-one homework tutors who will meet with children on a regular basis.
Ossining Public Library (Westchester) $5,000 - Rimos y Ritmo. Latino families with children up to age four will attend a 5-week program of music and rhythm, with songs and nursery rhymes in both Spanish and English. The library will partner with First Steps, a preschool program. Parents will be educated on the cognitive development of young children and the services the library provides.
Patterson Library, Westfield (Chautauqua) $8,251 - Join the Winners Circle - READ! This year-long program is for children in grades K-2 and their parents. Free childcare will encourage working parents to attend family literacy workshops. Outreach storytimes, classroom door decorating contests, reading record logs, and a motivational speaker will encourage parents to read with their children.
Queens Borough Public Library (Queens) $30,068 - Fathers as Reading Partners. A series of workshops and storytimes will be targeted at male caregivers and their children. Reading/ Emergent Literacy workshops will be offered at various branches. Librarians will offer storytimes for fathers and children. Staff development will include a discussion of books that appeal to boys, ways to promote literacy with fathers, and an outside speaker with expertise in literature.
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Community Library, Ravena (Albany) $21,869 - Romp and Read, An Outreach Project to Families with Young Children. A traveling librarian will present storytimes at outreach locations throughout the service area focusing on low-income families. Parenting materials and early childhood education professionals will answer parent questions on literacy. Book collections will be available at each site for circulation. Special programs will be offered during Children's Book Week and National Library Week.
Schenectady County Public Library (Schenectady) $5,930 - GARDN (Gardens and Readers Develop Together Naturally)/Year 2. Aligned with the NY State Learning Standards for Science and Technology, this project will expose parents and children in grades K-5 to gardening activities in each of the four seasons. Three science fun nights will be held at the target elementary schools. The public library and the elementary school's library collections will be enhanced with science curriculum materials. GARDN learning kits will engage children and parents in science activities.