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G2S Project Code: 2015-AZ-75634
State: Arizona
Fiscal Year: 2015

Grantee
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records

Project Director
Director Name: Donna Throckmorton
Director Phone: 602-542-6257
Director Email: dthrockmorton@azlibrary.gov

General Information
Title: Community Engagement Programming
State Project Code: 2015-0200
Start Date: 10/01/2015
End Date: 09/30/2016
Abstract: The Arizona State Library implemented the Community Engagement initiative with three projects: Re-Envisioning Workshops based on the Aspen Institute's Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library; a partnership with the Arizona Humanities to provide FRANK Talks; and a partnership with the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education for participation in the Kids Voting AZ project.
State Goal: Community

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$41,464.30

$5,808.39

$0.00

$47,272.69

Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.
Community Concerns
Continuing Education and Staff Development

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Re-Envisioning Workshops
Narrative: The Arizona State Library offered workshops based on the Aspen Institute’s Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library. The goals of the workshops were to help library staff discover ways to improve the role their libraries play in their communities; support their communities’ goals; ensure long-term sustainability for public libraries; and cultivate leadership at the local, state and national levels.
Intent: Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 360
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 16
Number of times program administered: 7

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: 7
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: FRANK Talks
Narrative: FRANK Talks are face-to-face conversations on ideas that matter. Attendees discuss issues of local and national importance in local libraries at a single-session, 90-minute program led by an Arizona Humanities scholar/expert on the topic. FRANK Talks engage participants with important issues and provide the opportunity to put them in context, weigh facts, and consider different points of view. The goal of FRANK Talks is to inspire people to practice the skills of citizenship – to listen respectfully and engage thoughtfully with one another on important issues that affect our communities. Topics in 2016 included Arizona history, race and the media, the presidential election, modern policing, and educational equity.
Intent: Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 21
Number of times program administered: 12

Partner Information

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: 12
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Kids Voting webinars
Narrative: Kids Voting AZ focuses on preparing young people to be informed and participating citizens. In collaboration with the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, the Arizona State Library provided libraries with Kids Voting Activity booklets, and hosted two webinars The webinars introduced Kids Voting AZ activity booklets and website, and explored civic programming ideas and online resources.
Intent: Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 2
Average number in attendance per session: 14
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 11
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Kids Voting Activity Booklets
Narrative: Kids Voting AZ focuses on preparing young people to be informed and participating citizens. In collaboration with the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (AFLSE), the Arizona State Library hosted two informative webinars and used LSTA funds to print and distribute Kids Voting Activity booklets to libraries statewide. The booklets were modified to include public library activities and resources. Over 90,000 booklets were created and distributed by AFLSE, and ordered through the lawforkids.org website. An example of the Level I booklet can be found here.
Intent: Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.

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: 95,000
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

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
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: 6-12 years
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
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: No

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Re-Envisioning Workshop outcomes: Library staff learned new ways to re-focus the library’s efforts, new ways to engage with the community, and new ways of thinking. Post-workshop comments included: Start with the big picture when soliciting community input, Find common goals for community improvement and determine how library can support those goals, Seek to include a diverse pool of community input to broaden the net of community feedback. FRANK Talks outcomes: Participants were inspired to practice the skills of citizenship – to listen respectfully and engage thoughtfully with one another on important issues that affect our communities. Kids Voting AZ outcomes: 79,464 online Voter IDs were requested. 213 teachers and librarians registered to participate in the online voting. 95,710 Kids Voting AZ Activity Booklets delivered to teachers and librarians:
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Library staff participating in the Re-Envisioning Workshops asked for additional training in communication, surveys and marketing to be prepared to fully implement the strategies explored in the Action Guide. FRANK Talks participants expressed that they would further the dialogue by continuing the conversation with families and friends. Libraries that put energy and enthusiasm into planning and partnering for the civic engagement programming found great success in engaging their community. Examples include hosting elementary school programs; becoming an Early Voting location and allowing children to explore actual voting booths, distributing Kids Voting AZ Activity booklets to families; and passive voting displays.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Library staff taking advantage of these community engagement programs learned how to solicit community input, find common goals for community improvement. One area that needs additional focus is helping library staff develop confidence to host facilitated discussions. Many libraries that signed up preferred to not be directly involved in leading the discussion and appreciated the expertise and presence of the scholar.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:

Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: