Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
What we learned from this successful project was that people love to try new things. Week over week, the program gained popularity with teens and young adults. We continually built on that momentum. The idea and experience boxes included different levels of complexity but enabled the users to create their own experiences.
For our second rotation, we kept the idea box concept and five of the idea boxes from the first rotation. We added ideas that were requested through surveys including: "L'il Bits," "Tinker Box" and "Grow It." We left the idea boxes in each location for two months instead of one, so people had more time to try them out. Also, we created two new idea boxes for each rotation, which allowed us to keep in touch with our community, and up to date on technology requests. Because of this experiment, WCLS also added Chromebook Labs for each of our libraries so NCLab coding classes, ME2 engineering courses, and whatever comes up that requires computer labs can be added as a program on a regular basis. Idea boxes take time, funding and effort, but they are worth it!
#1 "Learn to Paint" was very popular. People followed this idea box from library to library. For rotation number 2, starting November 2016, this box was modified to include chalk pastels, pastel paper, and an instructional DVD, for the libraries that did not have water available for the paints.
#2 "Building: Now & Then" will remain the same, except no L'il Bits. It was very popular, and some branches have added some of the toy ideas in their Stay n' Play programs.
#3: "Zoom Zoom" will switch balsa wood airplanes to paper airplanes and include instructions.
#4 The new "Tinker Box" will provide "found" items to create. It gives participants free rein to create anything based on the stuff inside the box. This box had abundant and different supplies and instructions for starter projects, such as catapults. Newspapers, Popsicle sticks, bottle caps, rubber bands, glue sticks, craft supplies, hot glue guns; basically things to build with, and things to stick them together. Each branch provided holiday themed craft supplies when appropriate. The surveys showed that our community loves to craft!
#5 "L'il Bits" Idea Box included 10 sets of L'il Bits that people used to make a variety of projects. There were enough for several people to work on projects at the same time. Idea boxes with more technology were requested from our surveys. Instead of adding 3D printers, we made L'il Bits it's own idea box. We added other tech programming for the WCLS.
#6 "Photo Booth with printer and props" will have printer supplies and paper purchased. There are four Photo Booths. Two have printers: One will remain at the South Valleys Library, and one will be at Downtown Reno Library for use throughout the system for outreach. The other two photo booths will be housed at Sierra View and Spanish Springs libraries. These do not have printers, and will be used throughout the year for ongoing programs such as holiday photos to friends and family, and current event photos, such as the 2016 Olympics and Banned Books interactive displays at Spanish Springs Library.
#7 The "Music" Idea Box was successful, but the drum kit will be replaced with a tabletop version due to the noise factor. Additional headphones, amps and a replacement guitar needed to be purchased to keep this one in the rotation. It is very well loved.
#8 "Grow It" Idea Box was created through the survey so patrons can plant vegetable seeds in paper cups using soil and water. Popsicle sticks, paper and card stock, scissors, tape and markers will be available for patrons to label and decorate their seed cups.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
The "Love it" smiley faces were the only ones circled on all the surveys collected. 112 patron surveys completed; 51 staff surveys completed.
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:
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
No
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
No
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
Yes: Suggestions for other Idea Boxes: Crafts; cooking; knitting; sewing; crocheting; science; 3D printer; tools; microscopes; clay; photography; things that promote early learning; BIG cardboard boxes-making cars, planes, homes, letting the kids crawl around in them; plant thing; a photo booth for every branch; homeschool science; robotics; computer programming.
The Idea Boxes overall were successful, and WCLS plans on going forward with this project by continuing to update and add new Idea Boxes into our regular programming. New rotation of updated and newly created Idea Boxes starts in October 2016.
