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G2S Project Code: 2016-CT-77646
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2016

Grantee
JAMES BLACKSTONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Karen Jensen
Director Phone: 203-488-1441
Director Email: kjensen@blackstonelibrary.org

General Information
Title: Uncover Branford: your town, your people, your story
State Project Code:
Start Date: 02/01/2017
End Date: 09/30/2017
Abstract: Through a series of surveys, interviews, and focus groups, the library identified that Branford residents feel isolated and have a strong desire to make connections within their community. Uncover Branford addresses this need by bringing community members together to create personal connections while exploring the hidden gems that make Branford unique. The target audience is adults, teens, and families in Branford.

Uncover Branford consists of monthly meetings where participants meet their neighbors, share stories about their favorite places and memories in Branford, and plan a variety of group outings. Members come together to visit or “uncover” local restaurants, trails, historical sites, shops, and more. During outings, members document their experiences through photographs and a short written piece, which are transformed into display boards and booklets that are both printed and shared with the community.

Uncover Branford was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

State Goal: Literacies and learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$1,991.00

$0.00

$1,595.00

$3,586.00

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Community Concerns

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Outings
Narrative: Uncover Branford members plan and attend multiple outings each month to exciting Branford destinations such as new restaurants, art openings, hiking trails, behind-the-scenes tours, train rides along the shoreline, and much more. These outings are planned by the participants during monthly meetings at the library where community members come together to meet each other and break into small groups based on their personal interests to select places to "uncover" as a group.

Before holding the first Uncover Branford session, library staff discussed the possibility of participants having difficulty finding places to visit. In order to promote the program and come up with a list of potential sites, the library reached out to the Branford Land Trust and Branford Historical Society for ideas. In the event that a group could not come up with their own designated location, the library had a list of "backup" sites on-hand in order to spark discussion.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 15
Average number in attendance per session: 8
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: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: JAMES BLACKSTONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 758 MAIN ST.
City: BRANFORD
State: CT
Zip: 06405
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 5
Agree: 4
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 5
Agree: 4
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 4
Agree: 5
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 4
Agree: 5
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 7
Agree: 2
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Writing Descriptions
Narrative: Participants are encouraged to take photos of their outings and submit a written piece of no more than 250 words describing what they enjoyed about the place they visited and anything they’d like to share with others about their experience. These photos and writings are used in a library display and professionally printed in booklets which are made available to the community to highlight the hidden gems of Branford.

Realizing that everyone's comfort level with writing varies, the library contracted two local writing experts to help participants brainstorm what they want to express in their written pieces. Participants complete and email their write-ups to the library on their own time. The write-ups are then forwarded to the writing experts for content and grammar check before printing.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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: 2
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

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
In their written responses participants stated that they learned more about their community and were able to make invaluable connections with their neighbors. These connections were especially important to those new to the community, reinforcing the need for one-on-one interactions and wanting to feel like “insiders” or “in the know” of what the community has to offer. Written responses also show that participants felt that the program was beneficial and that they hope that the library will continue to hold monthly meetings and coordinate outings. Reading through this feedback proves that Uncover Branford filled a socialization void, something that many people struggle with as society becomes more and more reliant on technology. Participants in the target audience were not only interested in learning more about their community, but needed a way to reach out to their neighbors now that their children were out of school or they were transitioning from working full-time to retirement. Uncover Branford provides a safe place for them to meet new people and try new things under the “disguise” of a library program, reducing anxiety and making the whole idea of trying something new less daunting and tangible.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The most encouraging finding from the survey data was that 70% of participants stated they were more likely to use other library services and resources based on their Uncover Branford experience. Uncover Branford has proven to change the way participants view the library and enhanced their perspective of what a library can be. Participant feedback has led the library to create a Meetup account for Uncover Branford. The library's level of outreach on that platform has grown and reaches new users who would not necessarily think of the library as a social site.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
1. The library staff found that it was difficult to keep the group members in contact with each other, especially if plans changed. After a few sessions, staff moved Uncover Branford communications from email to a Meetup page, where participants could chat, connect and check for updates on their own. This transition went smoothly and made it possible for Uncover Branford members to take a more active role in their scheduled outings. This has allowed participants to feel that they drive the program and has given them a greater sense of fulfillment and pride in the experience. There are now 143 members on the Uncover Branford Meetup page, and it is growing every day. Creating and maintaining a Meetup page has also helped library staff reach new users, and it will steer them towards more inventive ways of making connections and bringing the community together. 2. In the words of the library staff: "One of our biggest takeaways from this experience was to be flexible. When we first conducted our focus groups there was a lot of talk about the importance of keeping meetings short and presenting a specific task at hand. At the time we thought creating a three-part series with specific timelines as well as a “final project” would satisfy everyone’s need for order. When we had our first meeting we quickly discovered that the need to make connections outweighed any clear deadlines or even the final write-up. As a matter of fact, it was hard to get the group to stop sharing, so that they could narrow down where their outings would take place. "Through this experience we were able to alter our program so that it focused more on making connections and creating experiences rather than the end product. Initially we were disappointed with the fact that everyone did not want to participate in the write-up portion of our program but as we kept meeting new people and talking about their experiences we realized that we were essentially creating community, especially for those that were new to Branford. Through these meetings real friendships have formed and it’s nice to know that we were able to bring people together that otherwise would not have met. "Please note that these new connections and extensions to the program took time. Be patient with yourself as well as the attendance rate. Offering a program of this magnitude was new for us. Most of our programming is traditional in the sense that participants come to the library to listen to a speaker, create something, or watch a film. Here, we are asking people to essentially interact with strangers and leave the building. The concept is foreign and at times hard to explain but the more we offered the program, observed the attendees and made alterations, the more successful it became. Our most recent Uncover Branford meeting brought in 10 new participants, and a lot of that had to do with Meetup, word of mouth, and our printed Uncover Branford booklets."
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:
Yes
Explain:
Uncover Branford is continuing to sustain itself with monthly meetings and outings already scheduled for the fall. The makeup of the program has altered with community members taking the lead when it comes to brainstorming, organizing outings and keeping the MeetUp page up to date. A staff member is still present during the library meetings to ease through introductions and be of assistance if questions or concerns arise.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
The library is in the process of partnering with the East Shore Region Adult and Continuing Education program (ERACE) that focuses on working with adults that are learning English as a second language. The ERACE staff heard about Uncover Branford’s written component, which will serve as a writing exercise, as well as the idea of building community and creating connections through the scheduled outings. [The library subsequently published a second booklet including stories from ERACE students, which was uploaded as a pdf attachment to this project.] In addition, volunteers from the community have begun contacting the library to coordinate unique outings and guided private tours for Uncover Branford members. The local chapter of the Audubon Society is planning to show participants how to perform wildlife surveys in the area, and a member of the Branford Historical Society has offered to give members a private tour of a historical home in town.
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: EXCITE, community