2003-2004 Grant Project Reports
Grant Project descriptions by Library:
Brooklyn Public Library | Hempstead Public Library | Mohawk Valley Library System | Monroe County Library System | The New York Public Library | Oneida Public Library | Port Washington Public Library | Potsdam Public Library | Queens Borough Public Library | Saratoga Springs Public Library | Schenectady County Public Library | Warsaw Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library
Cathy Shomstein
(718) 230-2168
Project Name:
The W.R.I.T.E. Workshops (Writing, Reading and Imagining through Thematic Engagement)
Project Amount:
$14,910
Brief Project Description:
Writing professionals led 8-session workshops on playwriting and creative non-fiction for students at Brooklyn Public Library's five Learning Centers. Additionally, single session workshops dealing with the life of professional authors were offered.
Needs Addressed:
Improve adult learners' functional literacy including writing forms, punctuation, vocabulary and spelling.
Target Audience:
Adult students at the Learning Centers with reading levels from grade 0 to 5.9.
Specific Activities:
Each of the five Learning Centers hosted one playwriting and one creative-nonfiction 8-session workshop as well as two single-session visits with professional writers. Books with simple vocabulary and sophisticated content were purchased and circulated.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Student surveys, informal questions, written reports by workshop leaders, student writing samples.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: 72% of participants learned to write a new kind of text, 72% learned about punctuation, 100% said the workshop leader helped them to write about their own experiences, 91% said they learned new writing strategies, and 87% said the would like to attend more writing workshops in the future.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
Topics for the single-session visits should reflect topics of use to students in their daily lives. New forms of writing, such as business writing and essays would address participants needs better.
Hempstead Public Library
Irene Duszkiewicz
(516) 481-6990
Project Name:
Numbers/Talk 2
Project Amount:
$15,544
Brief Project Description:
The project offered targeted instruction for adult GED students at all levels as well as a video series for English language learners.
Needs Addressed:
20% of adults in the community have attended less than twelve years of school. In addition, the population in need of ESL instruction has increased.
Target Audience:
Adults who speak English as a second language and adults working for their GED.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
The Department of Occupational Resources, the Hispanic Civic Association, and the Hispanic Counseling Center all referred students to the library programs.
Specific Activities:
A new computer and new interactive software was purchased to help students prepare for the GED. A teacher of mathematics provided weekly classes for adults. Conversation classes using a video series for English language learners were held.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Survey for GED Math Course participants, GED Scores, registration lists, verbal feedback.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: Students enjoyed using the software programs and found the different levels of instruction helpful. 13 out of 14 students who took the GED Math class passed the test. Overall students had positive feedback about the GED Math Class, computer-assisted instruction and the video instruction class.
Mohawk Valley Library System
Lois Gordon
(518) 355-2010
Project Name:
Say Yes! To Literacy
Project Amount:
$20,000
Brief Project Description:
The project strengthened literacy services in Fulton and Montgomery Counties through recruitment of students and tutors, publicity and promotion, online practice tests, print resources for students, and computer access an training for tutors.
Needs Addressed:
Recruitment and training of tutors, new resources for adult students.
Target Audience:
Adult students working on literacy skills and their tutors.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
MVLS collaborated with HFM BOCES, which provided GED classes at the Gloversville Free Library. Montgomery County Literacy Project developed a relationship with LV-Fulton. LV-Fulton worked with MVLS to provide training for tutors.
Specific Activities:
Ads for tutor training were run at two different times in three newspapers and on the radio. The libraries displayed fliers with success stories and requests for tutors. Tutors were trained to use Learning Express practice tests, and students began to use the programs. In-service and new tutor training was offered.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Summary sheets distributed to grant partners with collection of results 4 times throughout the grant process. Communication via spoken conversations, e-mail, and correspondence.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: The libraries and literacy providers forged successful partnerships. 23 new tutors were recruited and trained and 120 students were tutored.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
MVLS will continue to develop opportunities for cooperation among literacy providers and libraries, library staff continuing education, and promotion and understanding of literacy services and issues by the public.
Monroe County Library System
Paula Smith
(585) 428-8393
Project Name:
ESOL Services
Project Amount:
$20,000
Brief Project Description:
The project provided assistance and materials to help limited English speaking adults become more proficient in Basic English, become job-ready, and prepare for citizenship. Additionally, the project increased awareness of the various refugee communities on the part of librarians and the general public.
Needs Addressed:
Rochester has a large immigrant population, many of whom arrive with limited English language skills. 40% of immigrants are illiterate in their native language.
Target Audience:
Immigrants and refugees with limited English skills.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
Monroe County Library System collaborated with Literacy Volunteers, Rochester City School District, Greece Community Education and the Catholic Family Center. The partner agencies assisted in selecting materials, housed the new materials, and brought clients to their local libraries for tours and library cards.
Specific Activities:
Videos, books, software titles, and audio series dealing with basic English were selected, ordered and processed. Immigrants and refugees offered programs on Ukrainian and Russian culture and music, Chinese dance and food, African traditional clothing, and a panel presentation. A training session for library and agency staff was held.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Evaluation form for staff workshop, circulation statistics, observation.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: All evaluation forms had positive results, participants were pleased with the workshop and thought it was well done and informative. ESOL materials circulated 781 times and software was used 24 times.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
The program will be continued with a grant for a second year. One minor difficulty was that tutors tended to bring their students in to the library themselves, rather than arrange for a formal tour. Statistics were more difficult to compile as tutors did not keep track of library visits.
The New York Public Library
Susan Gitman
(212) 340-0952
Project Name:
ESOL Instruction at the Muhlenberg Branch Library
Project Amount:
$20,000
Brief Project Description:
The New York Public Library provided six classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at the Muhlenberg Branch Library. The Library also introduced students to the resources available at the Library.
Needs Addressed:
Improve basic conversational skills of non-English speaking adults.
Target Audience:
Adults with limited English language proficiency who work and reside in the Chelsea community in Manhattan.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
The Riverside Language Program provided classes and pre- and post-tests of student's English proficiency. Library outreach staff worked with the Literacy Assistance Center, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, and the New York City Department of Education to recruit and refer students and publicize registration schedules.
Specific Activities:
Six free ESOL Classes were offered, Muhlenberg Branch Library Staff provided an orientation to library materials, services, and programs, and the project was publicized through distribution of brochures and flyers in English and Spanish, and on the Library web site.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: New York City Adult Literacy Initiative Information Evaluation System for English proficiency.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: 154 students registered for the classes. 33.92% of students at level one advanced to the next level and 36.84% of students at level two advanced to the next level.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
The Library will continue with its goal of improving the basic conversational skills of non-English speaking adults in the Chelsea community by contracting with the Riverside Language Program in the fall of 2004. In the second year of the grant, the library will purchase new materials to support the ESOL students.
Oneida Public Library
Carolyn Gerakopoulos
(315) 363-3050
Project Name:
Project Read/Ever Expanding
Project Amount:
$11,709
Brief Project Description:
The principal focus of "Project Read/Ever Expanding" was to continue to address major literacy issues in the Oneida Public Library service area. ESOL classes were expanded and adapted to serve consumers with learning disabilities.
Needs Addressed:
200% increase in immigrant families seeking literacy assistance and literacy needs of patrons with learning disabilities.
Target Audience:
Immigrant families and patrons with learning disabilities.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
An ESOL qualified instructor was hired to teach classes for tutors. The Oneida Public Library received referrals from Literacy Volunteers of America, Laubach Literacy Action, Oneida City Schools, Community Action VESID, Liberty Resources, RSVP, Working Solutions, Department of Health, Family Ties Network, Central New York Community Foundation, Oneida Daily Dispatch, and ARC.
Specific Activities:
New materials were acquired for learners with specialized needs, a workshop focusing on strategies and techniques that tutors can use in working with learners with disabilities was held, 19 new tutors were trained, a diagnostic tool was developed and implemented, and a new web site design was created.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: A new diagnostic tool, the Individual Reading Inventory, was created for the program. READ test was used as well. Students filled out a satisfaction survey and tutors filled out an evaluation form.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: 50% of students showed marked improvement in literacy skills, 80% of students gave positive answers about their tutoring experience, 90% of tutors at the workshop gave the highest rating available.
Port Washington Public Library
Trudy Friedman
(516) 883-4400 Ext. 118
Project Name:
Literacy Enhancement for Developmentally Disabled Adults
Project Amount:
$8,000
Brief Project Description:
The project created a book discussion group for adults with developmental disabilities in order to increase or maintain the literacy level of the participants.
Needs Addressed:
To reach an underserved population.
Target Audience:
Adults with developmental disabilities who have aged out of the school system.
Specific Activities:
Three groups of adults with developmental disabilities met weekly for book discussion and refreshments. Materials were purchased and processed to support the program. The library and partnering agencies publicized the program.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
The Port Washington School District Education and Community Services, Community Mainstreaming Association, Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Little Village, and Young Adult Institute all served on an advisory board and assisted with recruitment and publicizing.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Observation and written reports by group leaders.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: 26 adults attend 3 book discussion groups, with 4 instructors. Participants looked forward to the weekly sessions, and leaders felt that the students made good progress.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
Sessions were increased from twice a month to weekly to give the participants continuity. Recruitment of leaders was challenging, but successful with patience. The success of the program and the need to serve the population necessitates continuation of the program.
Potsdam Public Library
Patricia Musante
(315) 265-7230
Project Name:
The Library's Proactive Role in Adult Literacy Partnering
Project Amount:
$20,000
Brief Project Description:
The project spread Adult Literacy activities to the neighboring communities of Norwood, Norfolk, and Canton through the training of literacy tutors and the addition of updated literacy collections. The scope of the project broadened when Literacy Volunteers of Jefferson-Lewis Counties extended its services to St. Lawrence County.
Needs Addressed:
St. Lawrence County's Literacy Volunteers had gone out of business and the area was in desperate need of literacy services.
Target Audience:
Potential tutors and adults with low literacy levels.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
The Potsdam Public Library collaborated with Literacy Volunteers of Jefferson/Lewis Counties, St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES, Seaway Tech, the Potsdam Neighborhood Center, Potsdam Housing Authority, Department of Social Services, St. Lawrence County One-Stop Career Center, and the New York State Department of Labor. Together, the agencies formed the St. Lawrence County Literacy Coalition based in the Potsdam Library.
Specific Activities:
Tutor training sessions, meeting of coordinating agencies to plan the St. Lawrence County Literacy Coalition, television advertisement created and shown, radio and newspaper ads created and published.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Tutor profiles, reading level tests for students, tutor evaluations of students' progress, list of active trainers, tutors, and students.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: Thirty-nine tutors graduated, 56 students tutored, 53 paid advertisements placed, 1025 literacy materials purchased. Overall the program has been highly successful, well publicized, well received and well organized.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
One problem encountered was the lack of knowledge on the part of library directors and managers concerning literacy materials. A system-wide workshop is planned to address this issue. The library system plans to continue and to expand this project.
Queens Borough Public Library
Bruce Carmel
(718) 480-4233
Project Name:
ALP Health Literacy
Project Amount:
$20,000
Brief Project Description:
The project improved the health literacy of students in the Queens Borough Public Library's ESOL classes by offering free literacy classes focusing on health and life skills.
Needs Addressed:
Speakers of languages other than English have difficulty obtaining appropriate health care, information and resources.
Target Audience:
ESOL students in the Queens Borough Public Library Adult Learning Centers.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
The Queens Borough Public Library formed partnerships with the New York City Department of Poison Control, the Queens Health Network, and the Literacy Assistance3 Center. The Poison Control department helped to incorporate their curriculum and held a staff development workshop. Two classes participated in a study facilitated by the Literacy Assistance Center.
Specific Activities:
The library offered a series of eight free 12-week ESOL classes focusing on health literacy. A staff development workshop was held for teachers in the ESOL program. Queens Health Network, the Community Service Society, and Elmhurst Hospital sponsored health and safety workshops for the students.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Pre and post testing using NYS Place test for students' oral language proficiency, pre and post Health Information Survey for beginning level students, Health Literacy Assessment Tool for Group Administration.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: Students' knowledge regarding taking medication and self-care strategies significantly improved after their participation in the health unit classes. Students were better able to navigate and access resources and basic health services.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
The Health Literacy Project will continue. The Queens Library's Adult Lerner program will integrate health literacy into classes and small group instruction program-wide.
Saratoga Springs Public Library
Harry Dutcher
(518) 584-7860
Project Name:
ESOL Connect @ the Library
Project Amount:
$13,962
Brief Project Description:
The Saratoga Springs Public Library organized a multimedia ESOL collection including new materials and those already in the collection. Additionally, staff training and Literacy Volunteers tutor training was provided.
Needs Addressed:
The number of Saratoga County residents who speak a language other than English at home has increased 40% in the last 10 years. Saratoga Springs Public Library's ESOL collection needed to be updated and consolidated.
Target Audience:
Saratoga County residents who are English language learners.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
Saratoga Springs Public Library collaborated with Literacy Volunteers. Literacy volunteers provided training to library staff to help create a supportive environment for new immigrants. Literacy Volunteers also provided training for ESOL tutors.
Specific Activities:
Staff training, computer classroom straining for staff and tutors, collection development, ESOL tutor training, publicity.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Circulation statistics, observation, and discussion.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: Twenty-five tutors were trained, 4 special programs were offered, 32 tutors were placed with students, and more than 500 hours of tutoring were provided. The new collection was used immediately and continuously.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
There was some difficulty in ordering materials. The delivery took a long time and the "no-fill" rate was high. A long lead-time is necessary when ordering literacy materials. The library plans to continue and expand this project and continue to cooperate with Literacy Volunteers in other areas.
Schenectady County Public Library
Jo Ann Adams
(518) 388-4565
Project Name:
Library Outreach & Opportunity Project - Loop
Project Amount:
$12,508
Brief Project Description:
The project consisted of outreach efforts that included recruitment and training of volunteer tutors, new ESOL materials for the library, and new student/tutor discussion groups that focused on information available at the library.
Needs Addressed:
There are an increasing number of non-English speaking people in the Schenectady area, and a scarcity of trained tutors.
Target Audience:
Speakers of a language other than English
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
The Schenectady County Public Library collaborated with Literacy Volunteers of America Mohawk/Hudson on outreach, tours, and discussion programs.
Specific Activities:
The library and LVA prepared and distributed posters, flyers, and news releases describing the need for tutors. The library ordered new literacy materials including compact discs and audiocassettes. The library and LVA collaborated on a series of tours and discussion programs at the library.
Evaluation and Results:
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: Fourteen trainings and 9 tour/discussions were offered. New tutor recruits were lower than expected at 23. Many of the new literacy materials circulated. Library tours were successful in attracting students and giving them additional language practice.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
The program will be continued with a second year grant. The project will have an additional focus on computers in the second year. Outreach efforts will be extended with additional person-to-person contacts at community groups and with television advertisements.
Warsaw Public Library
Angela Gonzalez
(585) 786-5650
Project Name:
Literacy in Wyoming County Libraries
Project Amount:
$14,390
Brief Project Description:
The project was designed to attract new tutors and students, expand the Adult Basic Education materials in Wyoming County libraries, advertise literacy services to the public and offer training to tutors, agency, and library staff.
Needs Addressed:
Strengthen literacy services in Wyoming County.
Target Audience:
Adults in Wyoming County with low literacy levels.
Staffing/Volunteers/Partners Role:
Warsaw Public Library collaborated with Literacy Volunteers of Wyoming County and gave presentations to Arcade and Attica Lions, Warsaw Kiwanis, Warsaw Senior Social Club, and the Office for the Aging Wyoming Nutrition Site.
Specific Activities:
Purchased a core collection of updated basic literacy materials and software for the nine Wyoming County Public Libraries, provided tutor training for new volunteers, and training sessions for library and agency staff, advertised the need for tutors and opportunity for adult learners on radio, in the newspaper and in person at human service agencies and community organizations.
Evaluation and Results:
- Evaluation methods used: Circulation statistics, lists of tutors and students, observation, comment sheets.
- Progress, changes, satisfaction reported by participants: Radio and newspaper advertisements attracted prospective students and tutors. Letters and visits to local agencies were less effective. Five new tutors and 8 new students were placed during the year. Comments about the new software were positive, but they are not being used very frequently. Responses to the tutor training sessions were positive.
Changes/Recommendations/Continuation Plans:
The program will continue with a second year of the grant. More materials will be added and the program will be extended to Perry Public Library. Since radio and newspaper advertisements proved effective, these will be continued.