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G2S Project Code: 2015-CT-75547
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2015
Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn La Valle
Director Phone: 860-757-6665
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov
General Information
Title: Professional Development
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2014
End Date: 09/30/2016
Abstract:

The CT State Library provides continuing education for all librarians and library staff in Connecticut in order to allow them to work more effectively and efficiently and to serve their communities better. These educational sessions were offered in person at the Middletown Library Service Center, the Willimantic Library Service Center, and at public libraries around the state. Other classes were offered exclusively online as webinars. In addition, the Service Centers provide collections of professional development books and DVDs that can be borrowed by any library employee in Connecticut.


State Goal: Literacies and learning
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$48,994.00
$33,717.00
$0.00
$82,711.00
Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Continuing Education and Staff Development
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Continuing Education workshops
Narrative: These Continuing Education classes were offered in person in half-day or full-day workshops. They covered a wide range of subjects relevant to library work, including Technology, Cataloging, Library Programs, Public Speaking, Customer Service, Leadership/Management, Financial and Legal Literacy, Grant Writing, MS Office applications, and Library Accessibility. Workshop offerings are based on feedback from the library community and trends or movements from the library profession. The majority of classes were held at the Middletown Library Service Center, which is centrally located in the state. Classes were also held at eleven public libraries around the state.


Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 180
Number of sessions in program: 70
Average number in attendance per session: 11
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 134
Academic Libraries: 23
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 16
School Libraries: 22
Other: 5

Activity Details
Title: Professional Development collection
Narrative: The circulating professional development collection supports the continuing education program with well-researched professional publications. The CT State Library is able to offer a much larger and richer collection of professional development materials than any single library could afford to acquire. The collection grows each year with a standing order of new ALA publications as well as orders of individual titles from other publishers and vendors. These materials are shelved at the Service Centers, and they are discoverable through the online catalog for the Service Centers. Often, participants who are attending workshops at the Service Centers will browse the shelves to select useful titles, or librarians will request them through the online catalog for delivery by deliverIT, another LSTA-funded project. This year, librariansborrowed 555 items in this collection. In June 2016, the professional development collection was consolidated in one location at the Middletown Service Center.


Intent: Improve the library workforce.

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: 229
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Connecticut State Library
Address: 231 Capitol Avenue
City: Hartford
State: CT
Zip: 06106-1537

Activity Details
Title: Continuing Education webinars
Narrative: These Continuing Education classes were offered as one-hour webinars. They covered a wide range of technology subjects relevant to library work, including Apps, Tablets, Top Tech Sites, Web Design, Privacy Literacy, and Social Media. Workshop offerings are based on feedback from the library community and trends or movements from the library profession.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 17
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 57
Academic Libraries: 15
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 1
Special Libraries: 4
School Libraries: 10
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
62% of attendees at workshops completed surveys afterward. The majority indicated that they gained skills or knowledge as a result of the workshop. The majority also reported that they are confident they can apply their new skills and knowledge on the job.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
Survey results demonstrate that participants in the continuing education program are learning skills that will ultimately benefit their libraries and patrons.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Survey
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: Yes, the Professional Development Coordinator took a new position elsewhere in August 2016. Going forward, her responsibilities will be distributed among the Director of Library Development and other DLD staff.
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: CE