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G2S Project Code: 2014-CT-73090
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2014

Grantee
EAST HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Susan Hansen
Director Phone: 860-290-4329
Director Email: shansen@easthartfordct.gov

General Information
Title: Every Child Ready to Read - East Hartford
State Project Code:
Start Date: 07/01/2014
End Date: 06/30/2015
Abstract:

The East Hartford Public Library offered Every Child Ready to Read workshops to families, caregivers, and Family Resource Center employees to share ways they can promote pre-literacy skills with young children before they reach school. The library also purchased materials for circulating backpacks of literacy resources that reflect the five practices of reading, writing, singing, talking and playing covered in the workshops.

State Goal: Literacies and learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$2,987.00

$0.00

$950.00

$3,937.00

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Early Literacy

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Every Child Ready to Read workshops
Narrative: The East Hartford Public Library planned to reach as many parents of young children in the Town of East Hartford as they could and teach them the five simple practices of Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) to help them better prepare their children to enter kindergarten. The library held a total of 8 ECRR workshops at the main library and at community partner sites, with a total attendance of 60 people. In order to reach parents who were not in the habit of visiting the library, three of these workshops were held at local Family Resource Centers and another was held at an apartment complex. The project director also led an abbreviated version of the program that aired on the local cable station, EHCTV, thereby reaching even more residents.

The project director led the workshops using a prepared presentation from the ECRR2 manual. Every participating family received a copy of the book The Little Red Hen to use in the program and take home.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 7
Number of times program administered: 8

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: EAST HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 840 MAIN ST.
City: EAST HARTFORD
State: CT
Zip: 06108

Activity Details
Title: Items for the library collection
Narrative:

The library used grant funds to put together circulating literacy kits packaged in backpacks. Parents can check out the backpacks full of books to practice ECRR techniques at home with their children.

Since one component of ECRR is "playing," the project director used some of the funds to enhance the children’s department play area with three bins of manipulative toys.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 192
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0

Partner Information

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
Pre- versus Post- survey results indicate parents increased their knowledge of early literacy activities. Parents who indicated they did not have knowledge of early literacy activities felt knowledgeable after the session, and some parents who felt knowledgeable before the session felt very knowledgeable after the session. Four of the Family Resource Center employees who participated in a workshop returned to the library for additional materials and instructional support. Similarly, the library connected with many non-library users by visiting them in their neighborhoods. Subsequently, many of these families have become more frequent visitors to the library.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
As a result of the ECRR workshops in East Hartford, participating parents and caregivers are likely to read to their children more frequently and actively use one or more of the early literacy activities presented at the workshops. In addition, the programs have enhanced the library's visibility in the community and brought in new patrons.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Survey
Participant Observation
Based on outputs, outcomes and/or other results, explain any significant lessons learned from these findings for either the SLAA or others in the LIS field:
The project director learned how difficult it is to reach non-library users and get them to register for the program. She realized that she would need to take the ECRR program to them instead, working with three Family Resource Centers, an apartment complex, and the local cable access channel.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
Yes: The library will continue to add pre-literacy materials to its circulating collection, but at a slower rate using funds from their own budget.
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
Yes: The library hopes to bring ECRR workshops to new locations in partnership with local housing authorities and the Board of Education.
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
No

Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: ECRR, pre-literacy