Needs addressed:
This was an attempt to bring quality library programs to low income minority populations through two cooperating agencies.

Target audience:
Two specific audiences were targeted - parents and children served by the federally funded Even Start literacy project in South Country and the Teen Parenting Group at the Bellport Area Community Action Center.

Community partners and their roles:

• South Country Library – consulted with cooperating agencies; planned and conducted story, craft and parenting programs at both sites; purchased materials; conducted on-going evaluations of programs
• Even Start – suggested ideas for planning program; advised about the needs of the population; worked with families between programs; made observational evaluations throughout
• Bellport Area Community Action Center – gave suggestions as to the needs of the population; hosted programs twice per month; collaborated on parenting programs; made observational evaluations
• Cornell Cooperative Extension – conducted most of the parenting workshops

Specific activities:

• Two monthly programs were planned at each site. For the first program, parents attended a parenting skills workshop while children attended story hour. During the second session both parents and children attended a family story hour.
• Library materials were made available at the outreach sites. Parents were encouraged to register for library cards.
• Books, puzzles, parenting books, books in English and Spanish were given to families at the end of the project

Staffing:

• Library Staff – 138 hours
• Cooperating Agency Staff – 50 hours

Costs:

• Purchased Services - $810
• Supplies and Materials - $11,304

Evaluation:

• Quantitative Measures – Statistics kept on number of parenting workshops, crafts programs, story hours and playtime programs held at each site. Number of materials distributed and program attendance was also recorded.
• Qualitative Measures – Observational evaluations of children’s progress made by library and agency staff.

Changes/recommendations:

• Learned that what was successful at one site was not necessarily successful at the other. Program was very successful with Hispanic mothers at one site but less successful with teen parents at the other site. Teen peers and people more familiar with the population should be included in planning process.
• Note - All eight families at one site and two families at the other have become regular library patrons since the programs

Categories of service:

1. Services to Low-Income Families
2. Services to Foreign Speaking Families
3. Services to Young Adults
4. Parent Education

Last modified on March 1, 2000/djr
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/parchld/scountry.htm