WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 1 00:00:02.090 --> 00:00:03.909 Institute of Museum and Library Services 2020 Grants to States All States Conference May 2 00:00:03.909 --> 00:00:05.080 13, 2020 Virtual Proceedings by: CASET Associates, Ltd. caset@caset.net 3 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:06.380 Agenda Item: Lightning Talks: Interaction between G2S and Discretionary Programs 4 00:00:06.380 --> 00:00:07.380 MS. 5 00:00:07.380 --> 00:00:08.380 BOLLS: Welcome back. 6 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:09.519 This is Madison from IMLS. 7 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:16.490 In addition to the value of the Grants to States Program, IMLS also offers discretionary 8 00:00:16.490 --> 00:00:20.530 awards, as you heard us mention a few times throughout this conference. 9 00:00:20.530 --> 00:00:25.859 For these awards, eligible institutions may submit project proposals that are reviewed 10 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:33.250 by experts in the field and the highly ranked proposals are awarded funding for the projects. 11 00:00:33.250 --> 00:00:37.730 For these discretionary grants, we have two main programs. 12 00:00:37.730 --> 00:00:43.630 We have the National Leadership Grant program, which are for projects that will have national 13 00:00:43.630 --> 00:00:46.380 impacts on library services. 14 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:52.030 Then we also have the Laura Bush 21st Century grant program, which are for projects that 15 00:00:52.030 --> 00:00:56.860 offer professional development and further the library profession. 16 00:00:56.860 --> 00:01:00.940 From year to year, there are also some additional special initiatives that come up like the 17 00:01:00.940 --> 00:01:05.540 APP program that you have heard of, and obviously the most recent one is our COVID-19. 18 00:01:05.540 --> 00:01:09.990 We are going to be sharing some of those with you today. 19 00:01:09.990 --> 00:01:15.079 I do want to mention that some people have been having audio issues and the session is 20 00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:21.649 recorded so you can come back and review the recording later if you have missed anything. 21 00:01:21.649 --> 00:01:26.829 But the great thing about these discretionary awards is that we often see a dialogue in 22 00:01:26.829 --> 00:01:30.380 what is happening between them and our LSTA project. 23 00:01:30.380 --> 00:01:37.130 Some of these projects are even – these discretionary grants are even funded to the 24 00:01:37.130 --> 00:01:40.369 SLAAs or the SLAAs are a partner in one. 25 00:01:40.369 --> 00:01:43.049 These projects are super innovative. 26 00:01:43.049 --> 00:01:45.349 No evil will escape. 27 00:01:45.349 --> 00:01:52.229 We want to allow some of these folks today to showcase these projects and hopefully inspire 28 00:01:52.229 --> 00:01:55.649 you to apply for a discretionary grant as well. 29 00:01:55.649 --> 00:02:01.119 Again, feel free to put questions in the box as we go along, but we will not review the 30 00:02:01.119 --> 00:02:03.539 questions until after all of the presentations. 31 00:02:03.539 --> 00:02:08.220 I am going to let North Carolina kick us off. 32 00:02:08.220 --> 00:02:09.220 MS. 33 00:02:09.220 --> 00:02:15.180 WALDRUPE: Thanks Madison and thanks IMLS for having us here today. 34 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:20.540 I am Abigail Waldrupe from the State Library of North Carolina where I am the Digital Inclusion 35 00:02:20.540 --> 00:02:23.280 Librarian, which is a position created by our grant. 36 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:30.019 And my co-presenter today is Catherine Prince, who is the Federal Programs Consultant. 37 00:02:30.019 --> 00:02:35.129 Our project, Addressing the K-12 Homework Gap through Broadband Adoption, is a two-year 38 00:02:35.129 --> 00:02:38.769 national leadership grant originally wrapping in December of this year. 39 00:02:38.769 --> 00:02:44.379 We often just call it the Homework Gap Project In it, we hope to address the multiple barriers 40 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:49.430 to broadband adoption for families in our program – our middle school students borrow 41 00:02:49.430 --> 00:02:52.109 a filtered homework hotspot for one school year. 42 00:02:52.109 --> 00:02:55.840 During that year, they and their parents attend digital literacy workshops. 43 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.340 The state library partnered with the North Carolina Broadband Infrastructure Office to 44 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:04.390 apply for this grant and we now partner with local libraries who lend the hotspots and 45 00:03:04.390 --> 00:03:05.390 teach the workshop. 46 00:03:05.390 --> 00:03:12.349 They, in turn, partner with schools to identify participants and often provides the facility. 47 00:03:12.349 --> 00:03:16.239 Local libraries were selected to participate based on their proximity to a school with 48 00:03:16.239 --> 00:03:22.469 a take-home one-to-one device program, which was not quite as common of about three months 49 00:03:22.469 --> 00:03:24.249 ago, as it now. 50 00:03:24.249 --> 00:03:29.769 Their counties’ broadband adoption and availability rates were also considered. 51 00:03:29.769 --> 00:03:33.830 Participants simply needed to be middle grade students at those schools who were lacking 52 00:03:33.830 --> 00:03:35.209 internet at home. 53 00:03:35.209 --> 00:03:38.930 Just to take a quick look at the project details. 54 00:03:38.930 --> 00:03:45.450 We are implementing in four regionally diverse counties and each of these has lent 35 hotspots 55 00:03:45.450 --> 00:03:46.450 this year. 56 00:03:46.450 --> 00:03:52.840 Those hotspots are on three of the major mobile carriers depending on the coverage at the 57 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:54.549 homes of the participants. 58 00:03:54.549 --> 00:04:01.010 Families attended eight digital literacy workshops in the school year, each with content geared 59 00:04:01.010 --> 00:04:04.799 towards both the students and adults for each topic. 60 00:04:04.799 --> 00:04:12.190 Since COVID-19 has affected our program, the last couple of workshops were cancelled in 61 00:04:12.190 --> 00:04:13.190 person. 62 00:04:13.190 --> 00:04:17.530 We are working to deliver this content through a combination of self-guided modules and phone 63 00:04:17.530 --> 00:04:18.530 conversations. 64 00:04:18.530 --> 00:04:23.900 But these are not necessarily the best long-term solution, but what we were able to do quickly. 65 00:04:23.900 --> 00:04:26.940 Online options are not necessarily always ideal for our participants. 66 00:04:26.940 --> 00:04:30.930 We have to keep that in mind when we are looking for alternatives as we are adapting to the 67 00:04:30.930 --> 00:04:31.990 current situation. 68 00:04:31.990 --> 00:04:35.570 Obviously, the hotspot usage is up. 69 00:04:35.570 --> 00:04:38.419 They were not meant to support a full day of school. 70 00:04:38.419 --> 00:04:42.380 These are running into some trouble with data limits and that sort of thing, which are a 71 00:04:42.380 --> 00:04:47.479 problem with our hotspot vendor and something to be considered moving forward. 72 00:04:47.479 --> 00:04:52.479 We realize that our upcoming toolkit based on our projects need to introduce some ideas 73 00:04:52.479 --> 00:04:55.780 for remote training due to the new reality. 74 00:04:55.780 --> 00:04:59.250 And the needs of the families have changed as well, so we will need to include some content 75 00:04:59.250 --> 00:05:03.099 that reflects these changes, for example, instruction for web video conferencing has 76 00:05:03.099 --> 00:05:06.889 become extremely relevant now when it was not quite as relevant when we started the 77 00:05:06.889 --> 00:05:07.889 program. 78 00:05:07.889 --> 00:05:08.889 MS. 79 00:05:08.889 --> 00:05:16.010 PRINCE: We are looking at applying for discretionary funding for LSTA funds. 80 00:05:16.010 --> 00:05:21.639 We saw that applying for the discretionary grant allowed for additional funding to support 81 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:25.879 libraries in our state with a budget that our LSTA program did not have the capacity 82 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:27.699 to support at the time. 83 00:05:27.699 --> 00:05:31.870 Our partners were very interested in this grant and since our project partners are sharing 84 00:05:31.870 --> 00:05:38.720 responsibilities and duties across the project, this was the feeling for all involved to allow 85 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:41.240 for a more collaborative process. 86 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:48.479 This project allowed us to create a new position that works with the partners in new ways that 87 00:05:48.479 --> 00:05:50.669 the state library has not been able to do before. 88 00:05:50.669 --> 00:05:57.129 With the funding, we were able to leverage resources and submit long-term partnerships 89 00:05:57.129 --> 00:06:03.599 outside of the state library. 90 00:06:03.599 --> 00:06:08.000 Looking past December when the grant period ends, we are looking at the Digital Inclusion 91 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.250 Commission as critical for continued success. 92 00:06:10.250 --> 00:06:17.940 There are a few paths forward in achieving this goal and we are excited to see what 2021 93 00:06:17.940 --> 00:06:18.940 brings for that. 94 00:06:18.940 --> 00:06:24.319 As Abi mentioned, the toolkit is especially important as students and adults are navigating 95 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.949 this new normal and moving into a synchronicity. 96 00:06:27.949 --> 00:06:34.590 The relationships between the local libraries and the local schools that were facilitated 97 00:06:34.590 --> 00:06:40.389 by this project will be crucial to provide long-term success for the students and parents, 98 00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:46.030 as well as allowing the schools and libraries to see each other and partners in the future 99 00:06:46.030 --> 00:06:50.680 because we all know that establishing that relationship can oftentimes be difficult. 100 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:55.740 And the existing platform that Abi and our project partners have created will be used 101 00:06:55.740 --> 00:07:15.650 as a launch pad to start a phased approach across the state. 102 00:07:15.650 --> 00:07:17.849 That is it for us. 103 00:07:17.849 --> 00:07:18.860 Thank you. 104 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:19.860 MS. 105 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:21.129 NELSON: I am Jen Nelson. 106 00:07:21.129 --> 00:07:25.460 I serve as the Director of State Library Services, the state library here in Minnesota. 107 00:07:25.460 --> 00:07:32.350 I am going to talk a little bit about what I call are G2S and NLG Wash and Learn Initiative. 108 00:07:32.350 --> 00:07:41.539 The project – before we get started with projects, we really think about how does this 109 00:07:41.539 --> 00:07:46.759 particular project really start to reflect the commitments that the state has to equity. 110 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:50.361 I like to just use this as a slide at the beginning to remind folks that that is kind 111 00:07:50.361 --> 00:07:52.909 of at the center of a lot of the work that we do. 112 00:07:52.909 --> 00:08:03.129 For this work our LSTA five-year plan had several goals in it related to barrier-free 113 00:08:03.129 --> 00:08:08.199 access to diverse community needs and to digital equity and literacy. 114 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:13.990 As we look ahead and have looked back a couple of years how we are working with these funds, 115 00:08:13.990 --> 00:08:20.710 we are really looking to find different ways to make a difference in the lives of people 116 00:08:20.710 --> 00:08:28.060 who may not have an opportunity to visit the library or otherwise be involved in digital 117 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:30.879 kinds of things. 118 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:37.320 With our Grants to States program funds, back in 2017, we established a contact with Libraries 119 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:44.150 Without Borders, which is a national nonprofit located in Washington, DC, to establish what 120 00:08:44.150 --> 00:08:48.780 we call library installations at laundromats. 121 00:08:48.780 --> 00:08:56.160 In Minnesota, we took three partners and we worked with two county libraries and a city 122 00:08:56.160 --> 00:09:02.540 library over in the City of St. Paul, and really developed out the program to really 123 00:09:02.540 --> 00:09:03.540 get that proof of concept. 124 00:09:03.540 --> 00:09:05.370 Does this actually work? 125 00:09:05.370 --> 00:09:07.530 Is it sustainable? 126 00:09:07.530 --> 00:09:12.100 How do we respond to community needs to really learn some of that information, as well as 127 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:16.790 that the library capacity for outreach and being able to provide services at the laundromat 128 00:09:16.790 --> 00:09:17.790 were? 129 00:09:17.790 --> 00:09:23.710 The picture here is from our location in Chicago so I cannot get credit for that. 130 00:09:23.710 --> 00:09:30.670 The National Leadership Grant part comes in – Libraries Without Borders last year applied 131 00:09:30.670 --> 00:09:34.430 for a National Leadership Grant to expand the work. 132 00:09:34.430 --> 00:09:41.120 They are looking through the work in Minnesota, scaling out to be working with other kinds 133 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:46.780 of organizations and particular manufactured housing communities. 134 00:09:46.780 --> 00:09:54.460 The Leadership Grant is helping us to do a couple of things, to investigate that, to 135 00:09:54.460 --> 00:10:00.440 scale up the laundry project and has moved since into more of Minnesota, which is up 136 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:06.030 in Northern Minnesota and has been exploring other locations in the state for installations 137 00:10:06.030 --> 00:10:08.940 that can be supported by the local library. 138 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:14.420 And then the Leadership Grant also is allowing for that capacity for evaluation that is kind 139 00:10:14.420 --> 00:10:21.800 of difficult to achieve with the limited LSTA or Grants to States funds that we have. 140 00:10:21.800 --> 00:10:23.840 I believe it is a yearlong project. 141 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.480 We are a partner on it, but we actually did not receive money. 142 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:32.460 The Libraries Without Borders was the main applicant for that. 143 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:41.150 We tried to leverage the state investment we had already made into larger projects with 144 00:10:41.150 --> 00:10:43.700 better scope for the state. 145 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:49.930 And then we are also just now starting to look at how we can scale out into those manufactured 146 00:10:49.930 --> 00:10:50.970 housing communities. 147 00:10:50.970 --> 00:10:57.630 We have had several conversations with the Blandin Foundation, which is up here in Minnesota 148 00:10:57.630 --> 00:11:02.370 and devoted to rural broadband. 149 00:11:02.370 --> 00:11:09.920 We have done with our previous Grants to States and NLG, we have done some community meetings 150 00:11:09.920 --> 00:11:13.980 at manufactured housing communities and have done a lot of conversations with folks in 151 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:15.070 terms of what the needs are. 152 00:11:15.070 --> 00:11:20.060 Again, we are really trying to hit people who may not have good access to the internet, 153 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:24.430 may not have good access to a library at their place of being. 154 00:11:24.430 --> 00:11:30.010 We have hosted a couple of town halls at those locations and really learned from the communities 155 00:11:30.010 --> 00:11:37.310 what their needs are, whether it was homework help or digital literacy for adults, job seeking, 156 00:11:37.310 --> 00:11:38.640 that nature of things. 157 00:11:38.640 --> 00:11:40.300 This year we hopeful. 158 00:11:40.300 --> 00:11:46.960 We have our fingers crossed for the Blandin Foundation that we will be able to expand 159 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:49.410 into more rural areas of the state. 160 00:11:49.410 --> 00:11:56.440 That is a high interest of the Blandin Foundation, and is also something that as a state we know 161 00:11:56.440 --> 00:12:01.630 that there are some pockets in Northwestern Minnesota in particular, but also North Central, 162 00:12:01.630 --> 00:12:06.040 where the broadband service just is not there. 163 00:12:06.040 --> 00:12:09.590 The little bit that is, is not meaningful. 164 00:12:09.590 --> 00:12:18.450 We are looking at some of those additional locations for the next step or the next iteration 165 00:12:18.450 --> 00:12:20.670 of this project. 166 00:12:20.670 --> 00:12:24.680 Overall, the COVID impact has been we have had to pause. 167 00:12:24.680 --> 00:12:26.870 Laundromats in Minnesota actually are open. 168 00:12:26.870 --> 00:12:28.970 They are an essential service. 169 00:12:28.970 --> 00:12:34.690 But with the library staff being mostly either working remotely or furloughed, we have not 170 00:12:34.690 --> 00:12:36.410 had the opportunity to continue that. 171 00:12:36.410 --> 00:12:40.860 It is putting a little crimp in our plans, but I think over the long term, it is not 172 00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:47.920 going to be a big – it may be a big deal, but we are going to learn a lot from it. 173 00:12:47.920 --> 00:12:52.000 We have a lot of information in reporting kinds of things about the Library Without 174 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:59.580 Borders projects that we have done over the years, and happy to share that with folks 175 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.850 that might be interested who might be interested. 176 00:13:00.850 --> 00:13:02.320 So feel free to reach out to me. 177 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:03.540 Leah Larson is on the call. 178 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:06.610 She is our LSTA coordinator in Minnesota. 179 00:13:06.610 --> 00:13:10.340 She can also get you started and getting some information. 180 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:12.110 Thank you. 181 00:13:12.110 --> 00:13:13.110 MS. 182 00:13:13.110 --> 00:13:16.530 COLE: Good afternoon, everybody. 183 00:13:16.530 --> 00:13:20.960 My name is Natalie Cole. 184 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:27.333 I am a Library Programs Consultant at the California State Library. 185 00:13:27.333 --> 00:13:32.080 The Reimagining School Readiness for Libraries project is funded by the Laura Bush 21st Century 186 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.080 Librarian Program. 187 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:37.980 It is a multi-state professional development project that provides library staff with resources, 188 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:40.810 training, and a community of practice. 189 00:13:40.810 --> 00:13:44.520 The project is an expansion of the Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit project which was 190 00:13:44.520 --> 00:13:49.470 developed by the Bay Area Discovery Museum, known as BADM, and the California State Library, 191 00:13:49.470 --> 00:13:53.650 which was originally supported in California with LSTA funding through the Grants to States 192 00:13:53.650 --> 00:13:54.650 program. 193 00:13:54.650 --> 00:13:58.700 We applied for the Laura Bush funds to expand the toolkit project from California to other 194 00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.700 states. 195 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:03.140 Both projects are based on research conducted by BADM and both the state and national projects 196 00:14:03.140 --> 00:14:10.530 respond to an identified need for school readiness programming in libraries and demand for in-person 197 00:14:10.530 --> 00:14:15.220 training in this area from the library community. 198 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:21.840 The School Readiness Toolkit at the heart of the project, is a set of evidence-backed 199 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.153 school readiness activities and resources that are available for free online, and that 200 00:14:25.153 --> 00:14:31.170 are designed to equip librarians with tools and processes to help families prepare children 201 00:14:31.170 --> 00:14:33.230 ages 0 to 8 for success in school and life. 202 00:14:33.230 --> 00:14:36.170 I have included at the end a set of resource slide that show parts of the toolkit and how 203 00:14:36.170 --> 00:14:37.170 the toolkit is being used in libraries now. 204 00:14:37.170 --> 00:14:45.480 We can look at them quickly today and then you can look at them in more details after 205 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.550 the conference. 206 00:14:46.550 --> 00:14:52.360 The research from BADM has shown that we need to think about school readiness as a robust 207 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.350 developmental process that spans the early childhood years through age 8. 208 00:14:55.350 --> 00:15:01.700 And the BADM research shows that by 8, children should have developed complex thinking skills 209 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:05.190 as best evidenced by their grasp of conceptual mathematics. 210 00:15:05.190 --> 00:15:09.370 They should be effective at self-regulation and control and should be able to independently 211 00:15:09.370 --> 00:15:16.630 make and carry out plans and they should know how to get along with peers and adults. 212 00:15:16.630 --> 00:15:19.130 We know that children are capable of developing these skills if the adults in their lives 213 00:15:19.130 --> 00:15:27.420 provide developmentally appropriate and rich experiences to boost learning and cognitive 214 00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:28.420 development. 215 00:15:28.420 --> 00:15:29.420 However, we also know that since many library staff have not been trained specifically in 216 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:34.320 early childhood education, they do not always feel confident to effectively meet the needs 217 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.160 of the families in their communities. 218 00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:42.250 The original project provided library staff both with the toolkit and with training based 219 00:15:42.250 --> 00:15:43.250 on the toolkit. 220 00:15:43.250 --> 00:15:48.260 And through a combination of in-person workshops and webinars, nearly a thousand library staff 221 00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:51.780 members have been trained in California. 222 00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:59.790 The new three-year initiative scales California’s toolkit project nationally through a train-the-trainer 223 00:15:59.790 --> 00:16:00.790 model. 224 00:16:00.790 --> 00:16:06.080 And this project will train librarians in the current research around preparing children 225 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:13.370 ages 0 to 8 for success in school and life, tools to assess their own areas of fixed and 226 00:16:13.370 --> 00:16:17.720 growth mindset, especially relating to designing programming for families, and the hands-on, 227 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:25.350 open-ended pedagogy that underlies the activities and resources provided within the toolkit. 228 00:16:25.350 --> 00:16:30.360 Each library can choose what activities and approaches are right for them and their community. 229 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:34.480 And the train-the-trainer model will help other libraries and library staff adopt the 230 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.940 tools through existing networks. 231 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:42.730 In this, the first year of the new project, we are evaluating the toolkit with four libraries 232 00:16:42.730 --> 00:16:49.040 in each of our new Year 1 partner states, which are Arizona, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, 233 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:55.620 and we are assessing the impact of the toolkit in California with the librarians who are 234 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.960 already using it. 235 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:03.920 In the second year, we will train 24 library staff from the four Year 1 states, and 8 new 236 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:08.769 states as trainers, who are then responsible for training library cohorts in their own 237 00:17:08.769 --> 00:17:09.769 states. 238 00:17:09.769 --> 00:17:10.839 In the third year, we will train 20 library staff from 10 new states as trainers, who 239 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:15.920 will also be responsible for training library cohorts in their own states. 240 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:23.659 In this way, we will reach over 500 librarians and over 60,000 children and their adult caregivers. 241 00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:30.230 And the Pacific Library Partnership will engage an external evaluator to evaluate the toolkit, 242 00:17:30.230 --> 00:17:31.350 the train-the-trainer program, and the project overall. 243 00:17:31.350 --> 00:17:40.961 We believe the project will make a unique and essential contribution to the field in 244 00:17:40.961 --> 00:17:41.961 part because of its multifaceted approach. 245 00:17:41.961 --> 00:17:43.679 First, the toolkit was designed specifically as a set of adaptable resources that can be 246 00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:46.679 used alone or together with existing school readiness and literacy initiatives already 247 00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:49.320 in place in many libraries. 248 00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:57.470 It is intended to complement and enhance the work of librarians and not necessarily replace 249 00:17:57.470 --> 00:17:59.029 any existing programs. 250 00:17:59.029 --> 00:18:04.130 Second, the resources are powered by the research drawn directly from the BADM position paper 251 00:18:04.130 --> 00:18:08.010 and focus not only on developing skills beyond literacy, particularly early math and science, 252 00:18:08.010 --> 00:18:12.730 but also on children through age 8, which provides relief for many families whose child 253 00:18:12.730 --> 00:18:17.120 was unable to attend preschool and enters kindergarten already feeling behind. 254 00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:22.200 And third, the professional development training program and community of support is designed 255 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:27.299 to help library staff to improve their skills, feel more confident stating the research-based 256 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:32.509 intentionality behind their programming, and evaluate their mindset when it comes to designing 257 00:18:32.509 --> 00:18:36.059 new and effective programming for the families they serve. 258 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:39.970 And if your state would like to participate in Year Two of this project, please contact 259 00:18:39.970 --> 00:18:43.170 Lisa Regalla whose contact information is on this slide. 260 00:18:43.170 --> 00:18:49.980 Here are just a few slides that show some of the concepts and the research that has 261 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:59.399 driven the development of the toolkit and the training, some images of how the toolkit 262 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:02.700 is used in libraries and some of the resources that are available in the toolkit that you 263 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:17.660 can look at in more detail after the conference. 264 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:24.309 Thank you very much. 265 00:19:24.309 --> 00:19:25.980 MS. 266 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:30.970 SOUCIE: Hi, everyone. 267 00:19:30.970 --> 00:19:32.320 I am Mary Soucie. 268 00:19:32.320 --> 00:19:38.649 I am the State Librarian of North Dakota and I am going to talk about our Coding at Every 269 00:19:38.649 --> 00:19:42.860 Library project. 270 00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:47.169 The goal of our project is to reach thousands of youth and teens attending code clubs in 271 00:19:47.169 --> 00:19:48.480 small and rural libraries. 272 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:54.620 And we are going to do this or we are doing this, by supporting code clubs in 50 small 273 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:57.779 and rural libraries with hands-on training, ongoing support. 274 00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:10.250 And we were able to expand this and so we were able to add an additional 25 libraries. 275 00:20:10.250 --> 00:20:13.710 The libraries applied – we had way more applications than we were able to accept, 276 00:20:13.710 --> 00:20:19.169 so we were glad that we were able to expand and get some additional libraries. 277 00:20:19.169 --> 00:20:24.840 The goal is to build competency and confidence in small and rural librarians. 278 00:20:24.840 --> 00:20:30.399 Often librarians who are in small or rural libraries just do not have necessary training 279 00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.879 to teach coding. 280 00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:38.860 We have about 50 or 60 STEM kids that we send out to our libraries right now in North Dakota 281 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:44.179 to a different partnership grant with one of the Air Force Bases. 282 00:20:44.179 --> 00:20:48.010 And what we hear a lot from the library community is we would love to use these, but we just 283 00:20:48.010 --> 00:20:49.809 do not know where to start. 284 00:20:49.809 --> 00:20:57.100 That was sort of the basis for the idea behind working with our libraries to create these 285 00:20:57.100 --> 00:21:01.710 coding – and we realize that really there was a lot of applicability not just in our 286 00:21:01.710 --> 00:21:02.970 state but nationwide. 287 00:21:02.970 --> 00:21:10.350 The goal is to create long lasting community engagement by giving the libraries the tools 288 00:21:10.350 --> 00:21:16.960 that they need to build partnerships that help them not only assist them with this project 289 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:22.020 but build those long-lasting relationships after the project. 290 00:21:22.020 --> 00:21:27.909 The team consists of the state library. 291 00:21:27.909 --> 00:21:35.999 Prenda provides the training, the support, all ongoing work with the librarians and Prenda 292 00:21:35.999 --> 00:21:42.200 had already been doing this work but had not been able to reach out to many small and rural 293 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:45.309 libraries where cost was a barrier. 294 00:21:45.309 --> 00:21:49.330 And through the grant, we have been really able to expand the access to the materials 295 00:21:49.330 --> 00:21:51.000 that Prenda has created. 296 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.169 Crystle Martin is our project evaluator. 297 00:21:53.169 --> 00:21:59.330 Linda Braun is our project – she did project design and then she is also doing consulting 298 00:21:59.330 --> 00:22:01.419 to the libraries. 299 00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:10.289 And the Association for Rural and Small Libraries assisted with project design as well as outreach 300 00:22:10.289 --> 00:22:11.289 assistance. 301 00:22:11.289 --> 00:22:19.440 Ten of the slots were – priority was given to members of the Association for Rural and 302 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.760 Small Libraries. 303 00:22:20.760 --> 00:22:26.870 One of the reasons for going outside the Grants to States was that we wanted the project to 304 00:22:26.870 --> 00:22:30.059 have a larger scope than just our libraries. 305 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:36.779 We knew that there was a need in North Dakota, but through my membership on the Board of 306 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:41.870 the Association for Rural and Small Libraries and then we had several staff members who 307 00:22:41.870 --> 00:22:49.190 also participated at the annual conference and just in that networking and through our 308 00:22:49.190 --> 00:22:54.350 membership in the Mountain Plains Library Association, which is a regional library association, 309 00:22:54.350 --> 00:22:58.370 we were able to talk to rural and small librarians across the country who were all struggling 310 00:22:58.370 --> 00:23:02.010 with how to introduce coding, how to introduce STEM and that sort of thing. 311 00:23:02.010 --> 00:23:05.629 This is really a jumpstart. 312 00:23:05.629 --> 00:23:11.960 We partnered with Prenda because they had already demonstrated expertise in this area. 313 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:19.139 They were ready to expand their network and to provide the assistance and the materials 314 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:20.279 were already developed. 315 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:27.340 We just had to modify them for the small and rural libraries. 316 00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:34.480 As I said, our two-year grant is in the third year so we were able to add some additional 317 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.480 libraries. 318 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:41.840 Our intent is that staff will continue to offer the coding clubs beyond this program 319 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:47.690 and that more libraries will learn about the program through the work that we do and the 320 00:23:47.690 --> 00:23:53.750 information that we published and be able to start programs at their library. 321 00:23:53.750 --> 00:23:59.500 And then we will be sharing our evaluation data and our research findings with the library 322 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.500 community stakeholders. 323 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:05.279 We plan to present at the ARSL conference if we are able to have the ARSL conference 324 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.279 again. 325 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:10.360 We have also been impacted by COVID because nobody is having in-person coding clubs right 326 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.870 now. 327 00:24:11.870 --> 00:24:19.990 We are working with Prenda and with our other team members to take the training materials 328 00:24:19.990 --> 00:24:25.470 and present them in a different way that does not require in-person meetings with our librarians 329 00:24:25.470 --> 00:24:30.330 although most of those were done over Zoom, but also allows the librarians to push out 330 00:24:30.330 --> 00:24:35.590 the information to their code club members in the way that they can do activities at 331 00:24:35.590 --> 00:24:38.149 home and not be required to meet in the library. 332 00:24:38.149 --> 00:24:43.700 It has been a learning experience the last couple of months as we switch from in-person 333 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:45.600 coding clubs to virtual coding clubs. 334 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:53.480 As for what the future is going to hold, hopefully some day we will be back to some sort of semblance 335 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:56.700 of normal where we can do coding again in person. 336 00:24:56.700 --> 00:25:02.029 But if not, we are prepared to share the materials for the virtual coding clubs. 337 00:25:02.029 --> 00:25:03.139 Thank you to IMLS for including us in the discussion today. 338 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:10.740 If there are any questions when we get to Q&A, I am happy to answer them. 339 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:12.570 MR. 340 00:25:12.570 --> 00:25:16.230 DENNISON: Hello. 341 00:25:16.230 --> 00:25:26.309 I am Michael Dennison, a Public Library Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 342 00:25:26.309 --> 00:25:28.450 MS. 343 00:25:28.450 --> 00:25:39.159 FESEMYER: I am Cindy Fesemyer. 344 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:48.600 I am also with the Department of Public Instruction of Wisconsin. 345 00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.600 DR. 346 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:56.450 DENNISON: We are going to be talking about the Libraries Activating Workforce Development 347 00:25:56.450 --> 00:26:04.269 Skills or LAWDS discretionary grants. 348 00:26:04.269 --> 00:26:11.139 This grant is focused not only on improving librarians’ skills, but also improving access 349 00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:14.080 to workforce development services throughout the state. 350 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:18.850 As you all are keenly aware, this type of work is already taking place in libraries 351 00:26:18.850 --> 00:26:25.429 throughout the country every day, and this grant is going to focus on formalizing and 352 00:26:25.429 --> 00:26:31.249 cementing the roles that libraries play as job centers in every corner of Wisconsin where 353 00:26:31.249 --> 00:26:36.250 more often than not, the library is the closest thing a community has to a job center and 354 00:26:36.250 --> 00:26:41.639 those library staff are filling in gaps as workforce development staff. 355 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:47.809 The last point on this slide refers to our 16 regional federated public library systems 356 00:26:47.809 --> 00:26:57.409 that support all the staff in public libraries in each of our 72 counties. 357 00:26:57.409 --> 00:27:01.690 This collaborative project would not have been possible without our regional Workforce 358 00:27:01.690 --> 00:27:07.460 Development Board, regional public library systems and through a state agency partnership 359 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:10.460 with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. 360 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:14.690 The Workforce Development Board is already interested in what is happening in public 361 00:27:14.690 --> 00:27:20.559 libraries and they leverage their relationship with the Department of Workforce Development 362 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:25.850 to approach us at the Department of Public Instruction, and collaborate with our libraries 363 00:27:25.850 --> 00:27:32.070 and lifelong learning team to help build those connections at the regional level with our 364 00:27:32.070 --> 00:27:33.389 public library system. 365 00:27:33.389 --> 00:27:41.320 This has been a really great model of collaboration between state agencies and our regional partners 366 00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:43.190 to make this project a success. 367 00:27:43.190 --> 00:27:48.019 And the simple fact that these relationships were strengthened because of the grant was 368 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:53.509 a huge step forward for our state, and those preexisting relationships gave us the ability 369 00:27:53.509 --> 00:27:58.020 to react quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic. 370 00:27:58.020 --> 00:27:59.020 MS. 371 00:27:59.020 --> 00:28:02.020 FESEMYER: Thank you, Michael. 372 00:28:02.020 --> 00:28:08.440 Along with the partners that Michael just mentioned, Wisconsin DWD, our local workforce 373 00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:16.299 boards – DPI and the 16 library systems, we also partnered with the University of Wisconsin. 374 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:24.409 Those library systems, on the ground librarians, and universities helped provide expert advice 375 00:28:24.409 --> 00:28:25.900 along the way. 376 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:34.239 Speaking of expert advice, the reason we were not using LSTA funding to do this is because 377 00:28:34.239 --> 00:28:38.690 it was not specifically called out in our plan, but we had the opportunity to be nimble 378 00:28:38.690 --> 00:28:44.950 and reactive to a partner request to help bring this to the State of Wisconsin. 379 00:28:44.950 --> 00:28:52.100 Now before COVID, we had intended to carry out this four-part plan where we started with 380 00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:55.419 defining workforce roles within the state. 381 00:28:55.419 --> 00:29:02.230 We were in the midst of carrying that out as COVID struck, and some live in-person relationship 382 00:29:02.230 --> 00:29:06.110 building events were held and the remainder of them were cancelled. 383 00:29:06.110 --> 00:29:11.330 We were in the midst of developing the next module, the Career Planning and Resume Development 384 00:29:11.330 --> 00:29:14.850 when COVID hit, which made us pivot. 385 00:29:14.850 --> 00:29:20.850 Since COVID, we have cancelled those in-person events obviously, like the rest of you, and 386 00:29:20.850 --> 00:29:27.440 we have really prioritized those seeking health with unemployment insurance and are in the 387 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:34.549 midst right now of a two-part webinar series that is helping library staff understand better 388 00:29:34.549 --> 00:29:39.610 what the sign up and application processes for unemployment insurance will be like from 389 00:29:39.610 --> 00:29:44.049 the patron standpoint so they can provide better assistance when we open our doors and 390 00:29:44.049 --> 00:29:46.669 people start coming into our libraries. 391 00:29:46.669 --> 00:29:52.110 After we have deployed that portion of the funding, then we are going to prioritize job 392 00:29:52.110 --> 00:30:00.090 seekers, because clearly as we are in recovery, at some point, life gets back to normal then 393 00:30:00.090 --> 00:30:05.610 those unemployment seekers hopefully become job seekers and we just flip the script a 394 00:30:05.610 --> 00:30:08.619 little bit, but with the same partners. 395 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:11.299 On Monday, we will be hosting our second live webinar. 396 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:17.789 The first one we did shoot well past the 250-seat capacity that we had on the platform we used. 397 00:30:17.789 --> 00:30:21.720 The platform that we are using on Monday has a capacity of 10,000. 398 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.460 I think we will be good. 399 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:26.950 And we will record it and make it available for folks across the state. 400 00:30:26.950 --> 00:30:34.570 Many thanks to IMLS for making this possibility a reality for us within our state in such 401 00:30:34.570 --> 00:30:41.080 a timely manner to be able to do a very small pivot in this time of COVID, to serve what 402 00:30:41.080 --> 00:30:48.440 is a national global need really with those who are needing jobs or being furloughed and 403 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:55.919 seeking unemployment at this time. 404 00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:58.129 MS. 405 00:30:58.129 --> 00:31:06.989 CADIGAN: Good afternoon, everyone. 406 00:31:06.989 --> 00:31:11.909 My colleague Eileen Morales and I, are here today, very happy to talk to you about our 407 00:31:11.909 --> 00:31:12.990 IMLS grant. 408 00:31:12.990 --> 00:31:14.620 There it is. 409 00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:19.249 Reconnecting Returning Citizens with their Communities at Public Libraries. 410 00:31:19.249 --> 00:31:20.389 I am Peggy Cadigan. 411 00:31:20.389 --> 00:31:25.210 I am Deputy State Librarian for Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at the New Jersey 412 00:31:25.210 --> 00:31:26.279 State Library. 413 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.279 MS. 414 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:31.700 MORALES: And I am Eileen Morales, Grants Manager at New Jersey State Library. 415 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.700 MS. 416 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:37.340 CADIGAN: We branded this program as Fresh Start @ Your Library because that is exactly 417 00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.340 what it is. 418 00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:44.019 It is a statewide library re-entry program that will provide assistance for people returning 419 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:48.899 to their home communities after having completed their prison terms and it will help to give 420 00:31:48.899 --> 00:31:51.309 them a fresh start. 421 00:31:51.309 --> 00:31:52.309 MS. 422 00:31:52.309 --> 00:31:57.739 MORALES: We were inspired by a local reentry program begun by Tonya Garcia at Long Branch 423 00:31:57.739 --> 00:31:59.730 Public Library in New Jersey. 424 00:31:59.730 --> 00:32:04.519 Tonya invited the New Jersey State Library to consider taking the Fresh Start concept 425 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:10.129 statewide and Mary Chute, our state librarian, heartily endorsed the idea of applying for 426 00:32:10.129 --> 00:32:11.690 a national leadership grant. 427 00:32:11.690 --> 00:32:18.190 Our LSTA funds were allocated to other important statewide projects and so we felt that the 428 00:32:18.190 --> 00:32:23.779 project could provide a model for reentry services and public libraries across the country 429 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:26.929 and so the NLG program would be a good fit. 430 00:32:26.929 --> 00:32:31.049 We partnered with the New Jersey State Parole Board, the New Jersey Department of Labor 431 00:32:31.049 --> 00:32:37.070 and Workforce Development, Long Branch Public Library and the Free Library of Philadelphia. 432 00:32:37.070 --> 00:32:41.789 We invited several libraries to participate in the program, and we developed an advisory 433 00:32:41.789 --> 00:32:48.220 committee with representatives from San Francisco Public Library, Denver Public Library, DC 434 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.220 Public Library and Monmouth University. 435 00:32:49.220 --> 00:33:00.129 On June 30, 2019, we received a $628,774 national leadership grant. 436 00:33:00.129 --> 00:33:05.549 This map shows the participating libraries in New Jersey. 437 00:33:05.549 --> 00:33:10.380 The number of parolees and the unemployment rate in communities were two factors that 438 00:33:10.380 --> 00:33:13.179 we considered for pilot library sites. 439 00:33:13.179 --> 00:33:18.730 The participating public libraries are in Paterson, Newark, Trenton, Long Branch, of 440 00:33:18.730 --> 00:33:21.700 course, Cumberland County, and Atlantic City. 441 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:27.460 A branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia will participate starting in September this 442 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:28.659 year. 443 00:33:28.659 --> 00:33:34.489 The funding for this two-year project includes support of a full-time project manager and 444 00:33:34.489 --> 00:33:39.100 two part-time social workers, who conduct private one-on-one sessions with individual 445 00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:44.840 returning citizens at the libraries in order to directly connect them to appropriate local 446 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:49.090 social service agencies for their most pressing needs. 447 00:33:49.090 --> 00:33:53.220 Funds also support high school equivalency preps for individuals needing help in that 448 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:57.360 area and subsidies to support the taking of those exams. 449 00:33:57.360 --> 00:34:02.190 The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development supports referred individuals 450 00:34:02.190 --> 00:34:06.100 with job readiness and occupational skills training. 451 00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:11.030 Community resource fairs and job fairs will also be hosted at the libraries. 452 00:34:11.030 --> 00:34:12.160 MS. 453 00:34:12.160 --> 00:34:18.580 CADIGAN: Here is our Fresh Start team: Jondhi Harrell, myself, and a social worker, Sarah 454 00:34:18.580 --> 00:34:20.090 Swiderski and Nicole Warren. 455 00:34:20.090 --> 00:34:23.750 Jondhi, I have to tell you, is one in a million. 456 00:34:23.750 --> 00:34:25.140 He has an interesting background. 457 00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:29.060 He served 25 years in a federal prison for armed robbery. 458 00:34:29.060 --> 00:34:30.510 He has been home for ten years. 459 00:34:30.510 --> 00:34:37.570 When he got home, he found out that nobody was offering holistic reentry services. 460 00:34:37.570 --> 00:34:41.750 He began an organization in Philadelphia called the Center for Returning Citizens. 461 00:34:41.750 --> 00:34:47.100 He was a consultant to us and the project early on and we are thrilled to have him as 462 00:34:47.100 --> 00:34:49.660 our project manager. 463 00:34:49.660 --> 00:34:54.550 Our participating libraries set up private spaces for what we felt would be in-person, 464 00:34:54.550 --> 00:34:58.410 one-on-one interactions between social worker and client. 465 00:34:58.410 --> 00:35:03.530 Shown here is library director from Atlantic City, Bob Rynkiewicz, and Outreach Librarian 466 00:35:03.530 --> 00:35:05.000 Melissa McGeary. 467 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:07.880 They were ready to roll and then of course COVID hit. 468 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:13.510 I heard this theme throughout everybody’s presentation of what a difference it made. 469 00:35:13.510 --> 00:35:17.100 We had to quickly transition to a virtual way of offering services. 470 00:35:17.100 --> 00:35:20.660 This we did kind of old fashioned and new. 471 00:35:20.660 --> 00:35:26.150 We printed out flyers that the library directors put on their doors and we understand people 472 00:35:26.150 --> 00:35:30.400 are coming up and taking photos of these flyers with their cell phones. 473 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:33.410 The one on the left shows contact information for the team. 474 00:35:33.410 --> 00:35:37.730 The one on the right shows which agencies are currently open and offering services. 475 00:35:37.730 --> 00:35:41.750 Our Intake Form also transitioned to a virtual method. 476 00:35:41.750 --> 00:35:46.180 This Intake Form is only accessed by social workers so it is private. 477 00:35:46.180 --> 00:35:48.110 And we are launching a texting service. 478 00:35:48.110 --> 00:35:53.920 We can broadcast messages up to 1400 people at the same time, but all recipients are anonymous. 479 00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:58.780 We can also target texts to specific groups by location or interest. 480 00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:02.060 And people have the option to text do you need a job. 481 00:36:02.060 --> 00:36:06.000 They can text J-O-B-S to the Fresh Start phone number. 482 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:12.340 We are confident that the future of this program will be the best combination of virtual and 483 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:14.350 in-person services. 484 00:36:14.350 --> 00:36:19.730 We know that this program will provide a blueprint for other libraries to help returning citizens 485 00:36:19.730 --> 00:36:25.170 and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to IMLS for funding this and for inviting us to participate 486 00:36:25.170 --> 00:36:26.170 today. 487 00:36:26.170 --> 00:36:27.170 Thank you. 488 00:36:27.170 --> 00:36:28.170 MS. 489 00:36:28.170 --> 00:36:30.800 BOLLS: Thanks very much everybody. 490 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:36.770 I appreciate these six projects being discussed here today. 491 00:36:36.770 --> 00:36:41.350 If anybody has a question for any of our presenters, you can put it in the box. 492 00:36:41.350 --> 00:36:49.500 While we are waiting on any of those, does anyone – and you can raise your hand in 493 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:56.220 your webcam if you want to answer or provide any feedback on the application process or 494 00:36:56.220 --> 00:37:12.970 applying to a discretionary award. 495 00:37:12.970 --> 00:37:15.410 MS. 496 00:37:15.410 --> 00:37:27.500 SOUCIE: I am actually going to sort of answer the question kind of in a way you did not 497 00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:28.500 ask. 498 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:33.020 It is always good of course to have everything planned out, think of all the eventualities. 499 00:37:33.020 --> 00:37:35.420 Nobody could have thought of COVID. 500 00:37:35.420 --> 00:37:41.390 I am impressed with how quickly my colleagues were able to shift their thoughts and how 501 00:37:41.390 --> 00:37:43.820 great IMLS has been at allowing that shift. 502 00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:50.590 One of the other things that we did not really plan for though is our project director recently 503 00:37:50.590 --> 00:37:54.740 left our agency. 504 00:37:54.740 --> 00:38:00.140 We did not really have a plan for if that happened what we were going to do so sort 505 00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:06.850 of having a secondary project director lined up just in case who is familiar with the project 506 00:38:06.850 --> 00:38:13.411 and can pick up the ball and run with it if needed would be a tip that I did not know 507 00:38:13.411 --> 00:38:16.670 I would need to give. 508 00:38:16.670 --> 00:38:22.000 It just goes to the think through all of the eventualities that might happen. 509 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:23.320 COVID aside. 510 00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:25.260 Nobody could have thought through that. 511 00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:29.900 But think of the different scenarios that might happen and have a plan. 512 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:36.840 Just kind of that prepare ahead of time for things you might not think that you need to 513 00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:38.050 be prepared for. 514 00:38:38.050 --> 00:38:40.640 I do not know if that made any sense. 515 00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:41.640 That was my two cents. 516 00:38:41.640 --> 00:38:42.640 MS. 517 00:38:42.640 --> 00:38:44.380 BOLLS: That does and that is a great lesson learned. 518 00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:50.110 Does any of the other presenters have any lessons learned they would like to share throughout 519 00:38:50.110 --> 00:38:52.150 going through their project? 520 00:38:52.150 --> 00:38:53.150 MS. 521 00:38:53.150 --> 00:38:56.570 NELSON: This is Jen. 522 00:38:56.570 --> 00:39:01.400 I think the one thing that I would share is the issue of timing. 523 00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:09.800 As we looked at working with our internal funds, having one set of timelines around 524 00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:15.430 using those and then a different set around using the IMLS National Leadership Grant really 525 00:39:15.430 --> 00:39:20.270 trying to pair those up in a way that made sense so we were not over spending in one 526 00:39:20.270 --> 00:39:21.830 area and under spending in another. 527 00:39:21.830 --> 00:39:26.980 It really had to do some thoughtful work around the project planning to make sure that we 528 00:39:26.980 --> 00:39:31.400 did not run out of money or end up with a surplus. 529 00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.400 MS. 530 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:34.750 BOLLS: That is a great point. 531 00:39:34.750 --> 00:39:42.600 When people submit to this application process, they do have to point out a budget in advance. 532 00:39:42.600 --> 00:39:52.500 We all know that more often than not that budget is going to change as the project happens. 533 00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:55.120 We do have a question coming in. 534 00:39:55.120 --> 00:39:59.950 Did any of you apply for your project unsuccessfully before it was granted? 535 00:39:59.950 --> 00:40:07.040 If so, do you think that led to your success on a subsequent try? 536 00:40:07.040 --> 00:40:08.510 Great question, Leah. 537 00:40:08.510 --> 00:40:09.510 MS. 538 00:40:09.510 --> 00:40:10.960 NELSON: This is Jen. 539 00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:13.060 I can answer that for us. 540 00:40:13.060 --> 00:40:19.980 Libraries Without Borders had applied for an NLG grant the previous year and not awarded 541 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:20.980 it. 542 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:25.180 And I think the process of not getting awarded allowed them and us to really rethink how 543 00:40:25.180 --> 00:40:31.440 we could make this a different program and really contribute to that larger national 544 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:35.300 understanding, national learning that we wanted to have. 545 00:40:35.300 --> 00:40:36.660 It was really helpful. 546 00:40:36.660 --> 00:40:41.690 The reviewer comments are always helpful particularly when you do not get selected. 547 00:40:41.690 --> 00:40:47.310 They are helpful for really understanding where you miss the boat in terms of either 548 00:40:47.310 --> 00:40:48.310 the planning or the writing. 549 00:40:48.310 --> 00:40:49.310 MS. 550 00:40:49.310 --> 00:40:52.570 BOLLS: That is a really great point. 551 00:40:52.570 --> 00:40:58.690 The way that the review process goes is that for both NLG and LB21 is it is sort of a two-tiered 552 00:40:58.690 --> 00:40:59.830 process. 553 00:40:59.830 --> 00:41:07.940 Initially, applicants will submit a two-page summary and they are reviewed in a peer-reviewed 554 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:09.640 system. 555 00:41:09.640 --> 00:41:16.130 Then the highly ranked ones will be invited to submit a full proposal. 556 00:41:16.130 --> 00:41:22.470 And if you do not get asked to submit a full proposal, you still get your comments back 557 00:41:22.470 --> 00:41:23.670 from the reviewers. 558 00:41:23.670 --> 00:41:29.400 And then in the second round, if you are unsuccessful with your full proposal, you also get comments 559 00:41:29.400 --> 00:41:30.400 back. 560 00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:36.420 You get some really great feedback throughout the process from those peer reviewers and 561 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:40.520 it is a blind review. 562 00:41:40.520 --> 00:41:44.890 In addition to that, you also have counseling from an IMLS program officer. 563 00:41:44.890 --> 00:41:50.970 We have several program officers who have subject matter expertise within the Office 564 00:41:50.970 --> 00:41:55.680 of Discretionary Programs, who work with us pretty frequently. 565 00:41:55.680 --> 00:42:07.510 PARTICIPANT: I was just going to say that we did receive on the first time that we submitted, 566 00:42:07.510 --> 00:42:15.050 but the reviewers’ comments on the two-page proposal made our full proposal so much stronger 567 00:42:15.050 --> 00:42:22.620 because they were really honest and very helpful at areas that we really needed to make sure 568 00:42:22.620 --> 00:42:27.710 that we honed in on as we were writing our full proposal. 569 00:42:27.710 --> 00:42:28.710 MS. 570 00:42:28.710 --> 00:42:30.040 BOLLS: That is a great comment. 571 00:42:30.040 --> 00:42:31.040 Thank you. 572 00:42:31.040 --> 00:42:32.040 MS. 573 00:42:32.040 --> 00:42:33.910 FESEMYER: This is Cindy in Wisconsin. 574 00:42:33.910 --> 00:42:39.930 I can add that the comments that come even after the reading of the final version still 575 00:42:39.930 --> 00:42:45.260 helped us further hone in on what our project was going to be. 576 00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:51.490 Though we knew we had the grant, it was really great to still get that sort of evaluative 577 00:42:51.490 --> 00:42:53.020 review afterwards. 578 00:42:53.020 --> 00:42:54.020 MS. 579 00:42:54.020 --> 00:42:57.470 CADIGAN: This is Peggy. 580 00:42:57.470 --> 00:43:01.700 I wanted to go back to the lessons learned. 581 00:43:01.700 --> 00:43:06.370 I just wanted to talk about the value of flexibility on the part of IMLS. 582 00:43:06.370 --> 00:43:08.320 It really has been remarkable. 583 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:10.060 We did not think too much about marketing. 584 00:43:10.060 --> 00:43:14.650 And of course, we thought a little bit about should we have a flyer or a day planner to 585 00:43:14.650 --> 00:43:19.400 hand out, but of course, as librarians, it is like does anybody need another folder or 586 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:22.300 handout or a day planner. 587 00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:26.270 But when our program manager Jondhi Harrell came onboard, he said listen. 588 00:43:26.270 --> 00:43:29.970 These people and mostly it is men that we are serving who had been in jail – they 589 00:43:29.970 --> 00:43:36.170 would feel so valued if you gave them a folder with a day planner and a pen because you are 590 00:43:36.170 --> 00:43:37.500 telling them you believe in them. 591 00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:39.700 You believe they are going to have something to write down. 592 00:43:39.700 --> 00:43:41.690 They are going to have something to keep track of. 593 00:43:41.690 --> 00:43:45.480 They are going to have a calendar and they are going to have things to fill in on that 594 00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:46.480 calendar. 595 00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:51.880 I just wanted to say whatever your project is, allow for flexibility because we think 596 00:43:51.880 --> 00:43:56.440 Jondhi’s suggestions have greatly enhanced our project moving forward. 597 00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:57.440 MS. 598 00:43:57.440 --> 00:43:58.850 BOLLS: Great comment. 599 00:43:58.850 --> 00:43:59.850 Thank you. 600 00:43:59.850 --> 00:44:00.850 MS. 601 00:44:00.850 --> 00:44:03.100 FESEMYER: This is Cindy from Wisconsin. 602 00:44:03.100 --> 00:44:08.020 I just want to reiterate a little bit of what Peggy is saying. 603 00:44:08.020 --> 00:44:16.060 I will say a lesson learned is to involve boots on the ground library staff from the 604 00:44:16.060 --> 00:44:22.200 beginning as you are developing your proposal because at least in our case, it is in the 605 00:44:22.200 --> 00:44:25.570 library where this project is being deployed. 606 00:44:25.570 --> 00:44:32.550 We had some non-library folks writing our initial application. 607 00:44:32.550 --> 00:44:40.470 The advisors from those library staff who serve on our advisory committee are infinitely 608 00:44:40.470 --> 00:44:43.569 invaluable when we have those monthly calls. 609 00:44:43.569 --> 00:44:50.970 One nice pivot that we were able to make because of the COVID virus is that what was written 610 00:44:50.970 --> 00:44:56.640 into the grant as reimbursing mileage for people to attend in-person trainings now gets 611 00:44:56.640 --> 00:45:02.570 to pivot and cover marketing expenses because we found out from the people who work in the 612 00:45:02.570 --> 00:45:08.030 libraries that what they need is nice, polished display materials and posters and hand bills 613 00:45:08.030 --> 00:45:13.170 for their circulation desks to share their expertise and knowledge on unemployment and 614 00:45:13.170 --> 00:45:15.540 job-seeking skills. 615 00:45:15.540 --> 00:45:17.370 MS. 616 00:45:17.370 --> 00:45:21.010 BOLLS: Great. 617 00:45:21.010 --> 00:45:24.650 Thank you. 618 00:45:24.650 --> 00:45:29.900 I am not seeing any more questions in the question box, but I do want to thank our speakers 619 00:45:29.900 --> 00:45:30.900 today. 620 00:45:30.900 --> 00:45:35.530 It is pretty clear from these projects, that you guys put in a lot of hard work and planning 621 00:45:35.530 --> 00:45:40.200 and talk about pivoting and being flexible with what is happening during this time of 622 00:45:40.200 --> 00:45:41.200 COVID. 623 00:45:41.200 --> 00:45:47.480 You guys have done a really quick turnaround in keeping these projects active through what 624 00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:48.480 is going on. 625 00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:49.520 Thank you very much. 626 00:45:49.520 --> 00:45:52.620 We are ending a little early. 627 00:45:52.620 --> 00:45:56.970 I guess we will turn back on the chat box and we will go on break. 628 00:45:56.970 --> 00:46:00.430 We will come back at 3:05.