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G2S Project Code: 2016-CT-76961
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2016
Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn La Valle
Director Phone: 860-757-6507
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov
General Information
Title: Consulting and DLD Administration
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2015
End Date: 09/30/2017
Abstract: The State Library's Division of Library Development (DLD) provides assistance to librarians in Connecticut in order to help them learn skills, resolve issues, and provide the best services to their patrons and communities. As part of their regular duties, DLD staff are subject specialists who act as consultants for Connecticut's librarians. DLD continued to support use of the Edge assessment among public libraries and the use of the Aspen Institute's "Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library." Working with a standing committee and broad input from the library community, DLD led the development of the Best Practices in Connecticut Public Libraries to be used as a self-assessment tool. DLD continues to emphasize ongoing programs that address the seven literacies described in its Strategic Focus Plan and helped to sponsor the 2017 Futures Conference.


State Goal: Literacies and learning
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$515,804.00
$35,112.00
$0.00
$550,916.00
Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Consulting
Narrative: All seven DLD professional staff act as consultants within their subject specialties and on behalf of the State Library in general on the subjects of youth services, statistics, library trustees, Friends groups, interlibrary loan, digital projects, financial literacy, health literacy, legal literacy, E-rate, and grant writing and management, among other subjects. Consultants also serve as liaisons to library directors in specific geographic regions to keep them involved and informed of services and opportunities from the State Library.

The Division's director serves as a liaison to multiple state and nonprofit agencies, helps to coordinate statewide projects and programs with those agencies, and represents the Division on several advisory boards.


Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 1,281
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 107


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: 192
Academic Libraries: 8
SLAA: 10
Consortia: 4
Special Libraries: 4
School Libraries: 15
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Library statistics
Narrative: The State Data Coordinator compiles an annual report of public library data that is used by individual libraries to help assess their performance and funding in relation to similar libraries. The Data Coordinator uses Excel software to collect, analyze, and publish data annually. This statistical information is used by stakeholders such as public library trustees, administrators, and the general public, and it is a determining factor in state aid grants. The Division makes available an automatic chart-maker tool and online tutorials to help libraries use the annual statistics to evaluate their libraries and plan for the future. Official 2016 statistics from 168 participating public libraries are available online at http://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld/stats. They are also shared with state and federal agencies through the Public Libraries in the United States Survey conducted by IMLS and are reported nationally to the Public Library Statistics Cooperative (PLSC).

Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Other - Gathering


Quantity


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: 168
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource 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: Futures Conference
Narrative:

The CT State Library was a state sponsor of the Futures Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, September 25-26, 2017. DLD's Director assisted in all aspects of conference planning and organization along with other state partners. The Director and the State Librarian attended the conference and introduced two speakers. CSL's sponsorship level allowed for discounted registration fees for all 43 CT librarians that attended. Six DLD librarians also participated in the conference and will incorporate what they learned into the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Five-Year Plan and ongoing Division programming, consulting, outreach and strategic partnership activities.


Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 870
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 43
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: 17
Academic Libraries: 2
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 116
Agree: 50
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 69
Agree: 81
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 18
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 80
Agree: 75
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 10
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 2
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 78
Agree: 68
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 7
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Outcomes for the Futures Conference were provided cumulatively from all survey responses received, not separated out for participants from Connecticut.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

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:
No
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: public library statistics