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G2S Project Code: 2014-DC-73730
State: District of Columbia
Fiscal Year: 2014
Grantee
District of Columbia Public Library

Project Director
Director Name: Marcia A. Maziarz
Director Phone: 202-727-1787
Director Email: marcia.maziarz@dc.gov
General Information
Title: Literacy Initiatives
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2014
End Date: 09/30/2015
Abstract: DC Public Library used LSTA funds to support three initiatives intended to provide access to books and foster a love of reading in District residents:
  1. BuildingWonder, Designing Dreams: The Bookmaking of Brian Selznick, a temporary exhibit in honor of the 2015 Arbuthnot Lecture
  2. The Uni Project, a portable pop-up library system
  3. Family library at the Video Visitation Center, Anacostia Neighborhood Library

State Goal: Access to Information
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$91,001.98
$0.00
$0.00
$91,001.98
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Building Wonder, Designing Dreams: The Bookmaking of Brian Selznick
Narrative:

DC Public Library used LSTA funds to design a temporary exhibit (March 26 – August 30, 2015) on the works of Brian Selznick in conjunction with the 2015 Arbuthnot Lecture.  The exhibit aimed to engage book lovers with Selznick’s books and bookmaking techniques as well as with the collections and programs of DC Public Library related to the themes in Selznick’s work. 

The exhibit was built to simulate 3 large book openings. The inner walls depicted scenes from Selznick’s books, giving visitors an up-close look at his characters and technique. Three additional panels formed an outer ring. Walking the outer perimeter oriented the visitor and provided an overview of all of Selznick’s books, technique, awards, mentors, and influences. 

The exhibit featured a number of interactive experiences, e.g., a flight simulator to “fly” the DC to Baltimore route flown by Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt in Selznick’s Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride; a Cabinet of Wonder (Wonderstruck) housing animal skulls, fossils, butterflies, and insects on loan from the Smithsonian; and an iPad that played Marian Anderson’s historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial (When Marian Sang).  Patrons could also watch a video of Selznick discussing and demonstrating the automaton that inspired The Invention of Hugo Cabret.



Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Physical


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 1
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


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: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 1
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: The Uni Project
Narrative:

DC Public Library used LSTA funds to purchase a mobile bookshelf (the Uni) to provide material collection outreach to areas and events outside of the central library and the 25 neighborhood libraries.  


Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 1
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


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: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1
Activity Details
Title: Family Video Visitation kiosk
Narrative:

DC Public Library used LSTA funds to create a Family Video Visitation Kiosk at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library, which offers Video Visitation Sunday afternoons from 2 pm to 4 pm.  Video Visitation is the use of videoconferencing with CCTV systems and software to allow inmates and visitors to visit at a distance as opposed to face-to-face. This allows family and friends to visit inmates via the internet.  

A Family Video Visitation kiosk has been established providing families with a variety of books, ranging from children’s books to novels to nonfiction, study guides, career development information and other resource materials. The collection is rotated regularly so that children and adults are able to access different materials. The kiosk also is equipped with family support information and tip sheets that instruct users on how to download e-books to their mobile devices and/or e-readers.


Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

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: 355
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: Yes: family member of incarcerated inmates


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 1
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
All three activities resulted in reaching and attracting a wider audience to DC Public Library's many resources. They also provided residents with different ways to engage in literacy initiatives.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
Though DC Public Library comprises a central library as well as 25 neighborhood branches, it still misses many residents in the District. Finding new ways to attract patrons, from coordinating special exhibits to providing books and materials to families of incarcerated inmates to bringing materials via the Uni to non-traditional venues like the zoo, Union Market, city parks and streets, is important and possible.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Review of Administrative Data
Interview/Focus Group
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:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
Yes: The exhibition in conjunction with the Arbuthnot Lecture was temporary; however,librarians are planning to create more exhibitions in the central Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library upon the completion of renovations. DC Public Library also plans to increase its use of the Uni, particularly when the central Library is closed during renovations in 2017-2020. The Library would also like to increase the Video Visitation program by offering more time slots. LSTA funds may be used, but other sources of revenue will also be explored.
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
Yes: Please see above.
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
No
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Literacy Initiatives