Needs addressed:
The project was designed to help preschoolers and their parents prepare for kindergarten, especially those preschoolers not being reached by other programs. Local statistics have shown that many in this target group are living at or below the poverty line.

Target audience:
The target audience included all preschoolers and their parents in the library service area (Machias, Delevan and Franklinville), especially those who did not regularly make use of the library. Especially targeted were children taking part in W.I.C., Head Start and Even Start.

Community partners and their roles:

• King Memorial Library – planned and carried out programs; edited the newsletter; assisted patrons using the educational software at the library; distributed surveys and analyzed the results.
• WIC, Head Start & Even Start, Delevan Elementary School – assisted library staff in planning program; provided sites for programs and materials; distributed surveys and helped analyze results; provided information for newsletters.
• Delevan Elementary Teacher Coordinator –created survey for parents of children entering kindergarten; distributed new book to each child entering kindergarten

Specific activities:

• Kindergarten readiness activities and story hours scheduled at various outreach sites
• Get Ready to Learn newsletter published monthly to promote library use and reading activities
• New book distributed to every incoming kindergartner
• Parenting materials and educational software made available at the library

Staffing:

• Library Staff – 10 hours per month
• Project Staff – 10 hours per week
• Volunteers – 10 hours per month
• Cooperating Agencies – 3 hours per month

Costs:

• Professional Salaries - $6,250
• Supplies and Materials - $1,605
• Travel Expenses - $133
• Employee Benefits - $509

Evaluation:

• Quantitative Measures – Statistics were kept on library visits, material use, computer use and program attendance
• Qualitative Measures – Kindergartners’ parents surveyed about library use, story hours and interest in child’s education. Preschoolers with their parents did smile face surveys to describe their opinions about specific books.

Changes/recommendations:

• Keep in closer contact with Even Start to encourage them to take more advantage of the program

Categories of service:

1. Kindergarten Readiness
2. Services to Low Income Families

Last modified on February 29, 2000/djr
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/parchld/kingmem.htm