New York State Library

Division of Library Development

Parent and Child Library Services Program

Grant Project Reports
2003-2004

Grant Project descriptions by Library:


-Allegany Public Library
-Belmont Literary & Historical Free Library
-Brooklyn Public Library
-Field Library (Peekskill)
-Geneva Free Library
-Greater Poughkeepsie Public Library District
-Guilderland Public Library
-Hempstead Public Library
-James Prendergast Library (Jamestown)
-The New York Public Library
-North Tonawanda Public Library
-Olean Public Library
-Oneida Public Library
-Ossining Public Library
-Patterson Library (Westfield)
-Queens Borough Public Library
-Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Community Library
-Schenectady County Public Library

Project Category

Library or Libraries

Family Programs Belmont | Field | Geneva | Hempstead | New York | North Tonawanda | Olean | Oneida | Ossining | Poughkeepsie | Queens | RCS | Schenectady
Science and Technology North Tonawanda | Schenectady
Literacy Programs Allegany | Field | Geneva | Guilderland | James Prendergast | Oneida | Ossining | Poughkeepsie | RCS
Parent Education Allegany | Hempstead | James Prendergast | Oneida | Ossining | Patterson | Poughkeepsie
Service to families where English is a second language Geneva | Hempstead | Ossining | Poughkeepsie
Service to low-income families Allegany | Brooklyn | Geneva | James Prendergast | Oneida | RCS | Schenectady
Service to newborns and toddlers Belmont
Service to pre-school children Allegany | Belmont | Geneva | James Prendergast | Olean | Poughkeepsie | RCS
Service to children with special needs New York
Service to underachieving school children Field | Patterson | Schenectady
Service to young adults Brooklyn | Guilderland
Librarian Training New York | Queens

Allegany Public Library

Diane Winger
716-373-1056

The First Seven Years

$7,033
2003-05

Brief Project Description:

A special collection of literacy-based materials was created and rotates between the Allegany Public Library and the Even Start Preschool.

Needs Addressed:

The grant provided much-needed literacy resources to families unable to provide them for their children.

Target Audience:

Low-income families with children age birth to seven years.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Categories of Service:

  1. Literacy Programs
  2. Parent Education
  3. Service to low-income families
  4. Service to pre-school children

Belmont Literary & Historical Society Free Library

Renee Brown
585-268-5308

Story Teller Audio Read-aloud (STAR)

$14,585
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

STAR provided storytelling programs and parenting workshops for families in the Genesee Valley Central School district.

Needs Addressed:

Almost 24% of Allegany County's children live in poverty.

Target Audience:

Children birth through age three and their parents and caregivers.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Work Study student schedules did not fit with the library, find other volunteers. Hire a project coordinator with a flexible schedule.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family programs
  2. Service to newborns and toddlers
  3. Service to pre-school children

Brooklyn Public Library

Sheila Connelly Schofer
718-649-0388

Choices for Your Future: A Workshop Series for Young Adults

$36,280
2003-05

Brief Project Description:

This was the planning year for a two year project to provide a series of workshops for young adults focusing on life choices.

Needs Addressed:

High unemployment and limited job prospects, high costs of education, poverty.

Target Audience:

Young adults and their parents and caregivers from a variety of community organizations.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Parent turnout for focus groups was low. Avoid scheduling sessions in the winter months, and offer on-site childcare. Schedule focus group meetings in more convenient locations.

Categories of Service:

  1. Service to Young Adults
  2. Service to low income families

The Field Library

Sara Anne Bentley
914-737-0521

Parents as Learning Partners

$8,380
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

Families with 1st and 2nd graders attended literacy workshops based on the New York State English Language Arts Learning Standards. Parents and children participated in effective learning technique activities, assisted by two senior citizen volunteers.

Needs Addressed:

The project encouraged parents of marginally at risk students to become involved in their children's education.

Target Audience:

First and Second graders at Oakside Elementary School and their parents or guardians.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

A workshop will be offered by the school principal to increase parent involvement.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Literacy Programs
  3. Service to underachieving school children

Geneva Free Library

Hope Galens
315-789-5303

Wee Read Together

$17,584
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

An early intervention program to expose young children from diverse backgrounds to the benefits of reading and to their community library.

Needs Addressed:

The grant stimulated an interest in books and reading among low-income children and their families.

Target Audience:

Low-income families with pre-school children as well as daycare staff.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Use in-house staff development time for workshops for staff; few if any will attend in-service on the weekend or in the evenings. Transportation for partners will be investigated.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Literacy Programs
  3. Service to families where English is a second language
  4. Service to low-income families
  5. Service to pre-school children

Greater Poughkeepsie Public Library District

Barbara Haymann-Diaz
845-485-3445 ex. 3315

Familias Y La Biblioteca

$20,680
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

The program provided the participants with a literacy-based learning experience in a warm and culturally sensitive environment.

Needs Addressed:

The grant introduced Hispanic immigrants to library and other services available in the community.

Target Audience:

Spanish-speaking immigrant families with elementary-aged and younger children.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Additional efforts could be made to encourage fathers to attend more programs. Spanish language classes could be more focused on library specific vocabulary and terms.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Literacy Programs
  3. Parent Education
  4. Services to Families Where English is a second language
  5. Services to Preschool Children

The Guilderland Public Library

Karen Balsen
518-456-2400 x. 11

Reading Connections @ the Guilderland Public Library: Linking Parents and Teens

$11,312
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

The project created a book discussion group for parents and teens using books dealing with contemporary themes of interest to teens.

Needs Addressed:

The project was designed to foster healthy communication between parents and their teenage children.

Target Audience:

Eighth grade teens and their parents

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Discussion groups for teens will be held during and activity period to allow more teens to participate; and evening discussion session will be offered to high school students; joint discussion groups between parents and teens will be optional; four books will be chosen rather than three

Categories of Service:

  1. Literacy Programs
  2. Service to Young Adults

Hempstead Public Library

Irene Duszkiewicz
516-481-6840

Centro Informacion

$17,262
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

The library provided bilingual storytimes and books, presentations on community resources, and computer training for Hispanic patrons.

Needs Addressed:

The Latino population has greatly increased, while there is a scarcity of Spanish speaking librarians. Latino families underutilize the library and are unaware of the resources available there.

Target Audience:

Spanish-speaking families, both established and newcomers, from the Village of Hempstead.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Request more funding for programs and less for translation as the Hispanic community does not have many options or funds for entertainment outside of the home.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family programs
  2. Parent Education
  3. Service to families where English is a second Language

James Prendergast Library

Camille Guinnane
716-484-7135 ex. 234

Telling Stories: Bringing Library Services Into the Community

$15,544
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

The program brought preschool story time to families with identified literacy needs at six different sites around the community.

Needs Addressed:

Many of the residents of Jamestown have significant literacy needs and are lacking financial resources. The families in the program needed modeling of effective reading techniques.

Target Audience:

350 families enrolled in the Jamestown Public Schools PACERS program and 58 families served by Even Start.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

The project would have worked better as a two-year project. That would have allowed for creating and assembling story kits and recruiting and training volunteers in the first year. This took longer than expected.

Categories of Service:

  1. Literacy Programs
  2. Parent Education
  3. Service to low-income families
  4. Services to pre-school children

The New York Public Library, The Branch Libraries

Margaret Tice
212-340-0903

Children Together: Developing Inclusive Programs for Children & Their Caregivers

$34,999
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

Children's Librarians were trained to make children's programs more inclusive and welcoming to children with special needs and their parents. In addition, the parenting collection was updated to meet the needs of children with special needs and their caregivers.

Needs Addressed:

Improved access for children with special needs and their parents.

Target Audience:

Children with special needs and their caregivers as well as Children's Librarians at the branch libraries.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Focus groups will not be used in the second year, as it was difficult to get parents to attend. Instead, feedback will be solicited from parents who bring their children to programs.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Librarian Training
  3. Service to children with special needs

North Tonawanda Public Library

Peggy Waite
716-693-4132

Working the Web: Internet Instruction for Parents & Children

$16,945
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

The project provided Internet instruction for parents and children together.

Needs Addressed:

Previous Internet instruction had been offered to adults only. Patrons requested training for children as well.

Target Audience:

Children in grades 3 and up with at least one parent or caregiver per child.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

More intense and different publicity to attract more participants.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Science and Technology

Olean Public Library

Kathleen Price
716-372-0200

Investigation Stations

$13,698
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

The project partners created hands-on discovery learning centers featuring interactive programming to develop early literacy competencies for preschool age children. The activities were designed using the Multiple Intelligence theory.

Needs Addressed:

School readiness for low-income children and children in childcare centers.

Target Audience:

Three and Four year olds enrolled at Olean Child Daycare Center and their parents as well as children and parents who visit the Olean Public Library.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

In the second year of the program Olean Public Library will make new partnerships and create new Investigation Stations. More focus on parent involvement is necessary and activities need to be adapted to a broader age range.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Service to pre-school children

Oneida Public Library

Carolyn Gerakopoulos
315-683-3533

Sharing the Wealth: A Total Literacy Campaign

$12,800
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

A multiplicity of literacy programs including story times, tutoring, library introductions, education and careers, parent education, aerobics and a family fun fair.

Needs Addressed:

Low literacy, low education level, and high poverty.

Target Audience:

Families living below the federal poverty level

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Serve food more often, include more children's programming, include more drama, music, and creative writing, provide more study skills programs.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Literacy Programs
  3. Parent Education
  4. Service to low-income families

Ossining Public Library

Sally Dow
914-941-2416

First Steps in the Library

$5,000
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

A 5-7 week program of music and rhythm, with songs and nursery rhymes in Spanish and English held throughout the year.

Needs Addressed:

A significant segment of the Ossining population did not use the library

Target Audience:

Latino families with preschool children

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Expand programs into evening hours so working families can attend. Money should be included in the budget for refreshments.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Literacy Programs
  3. Parent Education
  4. Service to families where English is a second language

Patterson Library

Deborah Williams
716-326-2154

Join the Winner's Circle - READ!

$8,251
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

A yearlong series of programs designed to encourage reading aloud at home.

Needs Addressed:

Low achievement in reading.

Target Audience:

Children enrolled in grades K-2 at the Westfield Academy & Central School and their parents.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Family literacy workshops were not well received because parents associated the term with adult illiteracy. A better workshop title would have been "How to Raise a Reader." Bad weather interfered with the parent speaker night.

Categories of Service:

  1. Parent Education
  2. Service to underachieving school children

Queens Borough Public Library

Rosanne Cerny
718-297-3404

Fathers as Reading Partners

$30,068
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

This project provided programming specifically targeted towards men. It also provided staff training for children's librarians to help them target fathers and male caregivers and understand their needs and wants.

Needs Addressed:

Boys need fathers or other male caregivers to model reading as an accepted male behavior to help them do better in school, especially with reading.

Target Audience:

Fathers and other male caregivers as well as librarians.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Encourage more branches to do programs specifically aimed at male audiences. Follow-up survey of librarians to see if their service to men and boys has changed.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Librarian Training

RCS Community Library

Judith Felsten
518-756-8595

Romp & Read

$21,869
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

Romp & Read extends the library's programming with a traveling librarian and outreach sites to serve families who do not use library services regularly.

Needs Addressed:

The service area of the library includes many low-income families who lack exposure to child-rearing practices that encourage emergent literacy in children.

Target Audience:

Low-income families with young children who underutilize the library.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Try to attract families with children under age three. Use photography in publicity to attract people for whom the written word is not eye-catching. Add a site to attract more low-income families.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Literacy Programs
  3. Service to low-income families
  4. Service to pre-school children

Schenectady County Public Library

Serena Butch
518-386-2241

G.A.R.D.N. Gardeners and Readers Develop Naturally

$5,930
2003-04

Brief Project Description:

Aligned with the New York State Learning Standards for Science and Technology this project will expose parents and children to gardening activities in each of the four seasons.

Needs Addressed:

The students in the Schenectady City School District have a low proficiency rate on the state standards for science. Many of the children are on public assistance and are eligible.

Target Audience:

Children in grade K-5 who attend public school in the Schenectady City School District or are home schooled and their parents or guardians.

Community Partners and Their Roles:

Specific Activities:

Staffing:

Costs:

· Purchased Services - $2,859 for program providers

Evaluation:

Changes/Recommendations:

Fall or winter may be a better time to hold programs at the schools. Schools had to get funding for meals for the evening program.

Categories of Service:

  1. Family Programs
  2. Science and Technology
  3. Service to Low-income families
  4. Service to underachieving school children


Go to Parent & Child Library Services Program Page

Last modified on March 25, 2005 -- asm
For questions or comments contact Anne E. Simon.
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/parchld/04digest.htm