Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Oklahoma’s State Aid efforts have been going on nearly 50 years, and important findings have been identified throughout the decades.
One important finding is no surprise, because this is illustrated every year: Oklahoma’s public libraries rely on the flexibility to use State Aid to meet their greatest needs. As one librarian put in the 2016 survey, “Each year we face needs in different categories. Sometimes it is to purchase new books, to replace computers, to upgrade our automation systems, and other technology needs. Other times to put toward our children's or summer reading programs, offer educational adult programs, or purchase new furniture. Without State Aid we would be much more limited on what we could offer our communities.”
Feedback from Oklahoma libraries provides examples of the difference State Aid makes in basic library service in communities across the state, as well as examples of the role of State Aid in implementing, improving, or enhancing existing services:
“State Aid is more valuable than ever for our library in a small community with a poverty level of almost 25%. We facilitate digital inclusion by providing computers with internet access and free wifi.
However, it would be impossible for us to keep up with the necessary updating of technology on our static budget. With State Aid we were able to purchase 7 new computers and 10 new monitors this year! Our computers were used 16,641 times. In addition, we used State Aid to purchase 5 new databases, 3 of which provide continuing education to our customers. These are used by our customers and are promoted by our local Workforce office.”
“Internet and networking costs are increasingly important for libraries as they help bridge the digital divide for all constituents. Pioneer Library System uses State Aid to supplement E-rate funding to further assist in the infrastructure necessary to keep these functions going." "At the Woodward Public Library, State Aid is imperative to the needs of our customers and staff. With the additional funding, the library is able to provide services such as equipment for today's technology use, online database for library staff and customers, and supplies for children's STEAM programs." "Without State Aid the Talala Public Library would probably not exist. We are very important to our community because of a high need for internet access and the children's programs." The librarian at the Mannford Public Library stated: "Because of the budget the library receives from the City, I would not be able to hold a Summer Reading Program. Period. But due to State Aid, we were able to host 8 weeks of free programs for children and teens, with over 100 children attending each activity day." "State Aid allows the Marlow library to "employ a part time children's librarian who does weekly story time, the Summer Reading program and out-reach to the community." "Madill is a small town library that only has 3 employees and we serve the whole county population of over 16,000. The library depends on State Aid and all the help it receives from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. We use State Aid for computer supplies: toner, ink and paper, which our patrons use free of charge to apply for jobs, state benefits, college, research their health needs, stay in touch with their family via email, print air line tickets and school and college papers. We use it to help pay for our Summer Reading Programs, along with other programs for children/teens in area. We live in a very poor county in which there is not much to do for the children or teenagers." "In Lawton State Aid directly benefits constituents. State Aid is used to purchase books and ebooks for kids, teens, adults, and seniors and checkouts continue to increase! We need State Aid to get books into the hands of our readers!" "As a small library, we depend on State Aid to provide books, programs, equipment, etc., that our library general budget can't provide. We depend on State Aid to keep this library going and up to date. In a rural area like Laverne, the library is a very important part of the community." "State Aid is very essential to the Hennessey Public Library because the vast majority of books are purchased through State Aid. Without the purchasing of these books the community of Hennessey would not have the new books for leisure, replacement books they love, or the educational materials they rely upon heavily. State Aid not only helps the Hennessey Public Library function, but the entire Hennessey community." The librarian in Barnsdall outlines a situation echoed by many rural libraries in Oklahoma: "Our library is a small rural library that serves a population that is largely low income or below poverty level. The library budget from the city is based on tax revenue. Due to the lack of businesses to generate taxes, the library would not be able to offer the level of services it currently does without the funds from the state. State Aid not only assists us in buying books for pleasure and educational purposes, but it also help us provide programs for both children and adults. State Aid also helps us bridge the digital divide we have in our community by providing internet access and up to date technology for everyone. Public libraries help improve the quality of life in small, rural communities and it's vitally important that we protect and improve them for future generations. The task of protecting and improving the rural library cannot be left to the local government, we must continue to receive support from the state if we want our rural libraries to survive."
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The use of State Aid funds as an incentive for establishing, and then elevating, basic library services has proven successful time and time again. Over the years, the promise of State Aid funding has encouraged libraries to schedule evening and weekend hours of operation, to hire degreed directors, to establish various policies and strategic plans, and acquire various technologies for use by the public—from fax machines and photocopiers to public access internet.
The Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement, similar to the MOE of the federal LSTA program, has also served as an incentive for municipal governments as they consider annual budgets for their various divisions, including the city library. Because of MOE, it is rare that an Oklahoma public library has been denied State Aid, even during tough economic times.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Just as ODL has used State Aid to encourage the development of services, libraries have provided important feedback that has led to adjustments in the State Aid rules and disbursement formulas. When the rise of computer technology necessitated some larger investments by libraries, the formula was adapted to guarantee a minimum State Aid payment to Oklahoma’s smallest libraries to help meet this need. Municipal libraries, seeing the need to provide library services for those living outside of their traditional service areas, agreed to serve the entire population of their counties, leading to another change in the disbursement formula. This, in effect, literally opened the door to fee-free public library services for more than 500,000 Oklahomans.
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: