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G2S Project Code: 2015-CA-74995
State: California
Fiscal Year: 2015
Grantee
OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Michelle Waddy
Director Phone: 510-597-5058
Director Email: mwaddy@oaklandlibrary.org
General Information
Title: Make it @ Your Library
State Project Code: 40-8581
Start Date: 08/01/2015
End Date: 05/30/2016
Abstract: The Make It @ Your Library project procured, provided, and promoted a work space, tools, equipment, materials, and instructors for participants to do self-directed and teacher-led Maker activities at the Temescal Branch of Oakland Public Library and at a nearby child development center. Temescal Branch Library staff developed, created, and conducted Maker projects for groups of approximately 40 preschool children at a time, from underserved populations. The project contracted with a Maker consultant that presented a workshop to Oakland Library staff to develop Maker projects. Temescal Branch Library collected books on Maker-spaces, the Maker Movement, and on specific crafts and techniques. These endeavors helped children and their caregivers spend time together and strengthen their bond through fun activities, nurtured children’s intrinsic motivation, curiosity, persistence, basic engineering, art and science principles, and resourcefulness, and provided a positive introduction to the library. The Maker Space provided opportunities for connections that served as a model of collaboration and community interaction and engagement.

State Goal: Goal II: 21st Century Skills
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$5,000.00
$0.00
$9,047.00
$14,047.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Early Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Maker programs
Narrative:

"Make It @ your Library'' provided low-tech Maker programs for children between the ages of three and twelve years old and their caregivers. Twenty-three instructional sessions occurred either at the Temescal Branch Library or the Emerson Child Development Center. Five STEAM programs were presented by Museum of Children’s Art. Two LEGO programs were presented by Playwell Technologies. A well-received stomp rocket and Ziploc ice cream program was given by Howtoons. A local artist presented a Printmaking workshop and a local art studio curated the Art car. The project-led workshops followed California’s educational standard and included activities that named and described objects by color and size, created patterns, and 2D arrangements which helped in the development of beginning skills in the use of pencils,paint, crayons, scissors and paper. Students created works of art and experimented with colors and other varieties of materials. Every project whether in the branch or at the CDC strived to helped children and their caregivers learn problem-solving, communication, and time-management skills,which ultimately contributed to lifelong learning.


Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 23
Average number in attendance per session: 15
Number of times program administered: 1


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: 0-5 years
6-12 years
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: Yes
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: Yes
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: Yes
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: OUSD - Emerson Child Development Center
Address: 4801 Lawton Ave
City: Oakland
State: CA
Zip: 94609
Activity Details
Title: Training Day
Narrative: 22 librarians and library assistants from the Oakland Public Library staff joined to explore the principles of the Maker Movement and outlined steps to create a great framework for creating maker-spaces and projects. Trainers Emily Pilloton and Christina Jenkins provided a visual presentation, interactive activities and printed resources for all staff in attendance.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: In-person


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 120
Number of presentations/performances administered: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 22


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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY - Temescal Branch
Address: 125 14TH ST.
City: OAKLAND
State: CA
Zip: 94612
Activity Details
Title: Maker Collection & Equipment
Narrative: 32 books were acquired to build a lending collection as well as reference collection specifically for use with children and their caregivers. Books were bought on a number of different interests and skill levels on a wide variety of maker topics. The collection was not limited to Maker technology, but included best library practices and Maker ideology. The collection is housed in a separate bookcase in the children’s area to highlight this growing trend.  In addition, project staff procured basic equipment for sewing, fabric, and textile projects; hand tools and other materials for woodworking projects; science-based art project materials; consumables and arts & crafts supplies to supplement existing stock in quantities needed for estimated attendance. For example, materials included paints, soil, mason jars, paper, scissors, and yarn. Examples of equipment included a sewing machine, hot glue guns, pliers, wood burning set and a grommet punch. The focus of this portion of the grant was to gather the resources for an ongoing maker space programs.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 15
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 38
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: Yes
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: Yes
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: Yes
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: Yes
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 125 14TH ST.
City: OAKLAND
State: CA
Zip: 94612
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
45% of all participants made a new connection to the library staff or to other members of the community in the maker space, thus growing a library maker community. 80% of Emerson CDC-based participants improved their fine motor skills. Specifically, at the third workshop they were be able to effectively use a tool that they were either unfamiliar with or unskilled in using at the initial workshop.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
Connections were successfully made. As an example, the Art Car program brought about forty participants. Among these participants, 30% of people queried had not been to the Temescal library before. Ten people out of forty participants related to the interviewer that they reconnected with people they had not seen in a long time. This program was supported by many different aspects of the Temescal Community including local artists, businesses, families. The Emerson Child Development Center teachers have reported that they have found the kids to be more confident when tackling their art projects. They observed that the students in their class have started using scissors without needing the teacher to show them how. The children have been more successful staying in the lines when they are coloring - a marker for hand-eye coordination and familiarity with writing tools. 90% of the class correctly identified a wider range of colors when queried after the third workshop.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Survey
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:
My colleagues and I had noticed lately, children as old as ten years old are having difficulty using scissors and coloring inside the lines. Success in school projects is often dependent on the ability to use scissors, to color and to glue. The skills that were attained by the Emerson Child Development children were the most striking. As children progressed with the monthly projects, I observed that the children gained more confidence with their abilities. This observation was demonstrated by children asking for less help or confirmation that they were “doing it right” as the project year unfolded. As these young children advance through their elementary school career they will be asked to do a variety of hands-on projects to determine what they have learned in their classroom setting. This program gave them grounding in those necessary hands-on skills to build upon and lead to more advance Maker skills and successful school projects.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
Yes: The level of effort has to change because of the cost of manpower. My colleagues had to shoulder an increase in their workload during the course of the grant which cannot be maintained at present staffing levels. I will hope to continue to partner with the Emerson CDC. I found that I consistently had over thirty preschoolers in attendance to the monthly program, which made determining what supplies were needed easier and it was more cost effective. Contrast with the in-library programs the number of participants fluctuated which sometimes lead to overbuying or underbuying of materials. This often hampered the project. The in-library programs will be decreased in the upcoming school year.
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
Yes: The only change in the project’s scope will be the frequency presented in the school year. The project produced over nineteen workshops; this will be reduced to eight to ten workshops during September to May. The scope change will occur in how the in-library Maker programs are provided. During the summer the programs will be offered to children who are of elementary school age. The in-library programs would not happen monthly during the school year. The majority of the Temescal parents interviewed wanted expert-directed Maker programs similar to the HowToons program that was offered during Maker month. However, because of the cost the staff will need to find expert volunteers to do a program on an event by event basis. As stated in other reports, the Emerson Child Development hopes to continue the project. The population being served will still be under-served three to five year olds and will occur monthly.
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
Yes: The Emerson CDC suggested that an abbreviated story time be added with the hands on project. This request is doable due to the fact that they supply four adult helpers to assist with class management. The focus of each open studio will be gluing, cutting, using a paint brush and building. The projects will still be child led to develop basic Makers skills, but also still adhere to preschool curriculum standards. The projects would also change due to the cost and availability of the consumables. The other detail would be the change of the leadership at the CDC and their feelings or concerns about going forward.
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Maker, Preschool, Crafts