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G2S Project Code: 2017-MN-79953
State: Minnesota
Fiscal Year: 2017
Grantee
Robbinsdale Area Schools

Project Director
Director Name: Robin Nelson
Director Phone: 763-504-7112
Director Email: robin_nelson@rdale.org
General Information
Title: Improve Library! Improve Reading! Middle School Library Media Center Support and Extend 6th Grade Language Arts Curriculum
State Project Code:
Start Date: 11/15/2017
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract: Robbinsdale Area Schools increased reading interest and achievement among sixth grade students. New print and ebook titles that reflected the diversity of students were added to media center collections. The district's middle schools hosted Mini Lit Cons featuring book talks about those new and diverse titles. Local authors visited classrooms and inspired students to be readers and writers. Media specialists collaborated with teachers to teach digital literacy skills. Students created green screen video book reviews and developed digital literacy skills.  

State Goal: Increase access to library resources
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$72,206.89
$0.00
$59,665.30
$131,872.19
Intent(s)
Improve users' formal education.
Curriculum support
Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Mini Lit Cons
Narrative: Media specialists worked cooperatively with sixth grade teachers to promote reading and encourage students to find books for independent reading projects. Media specialists presented book talks about titles related to the language arts curriculum. Students wrote or filmed book reviews and posted book blogs. Students used green screen studios to create videos about the books they heard about during the Mini Lit Cons.

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 45
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 45
Number of times program administered: 12


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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Suburban
For what age groups: 6-12 years
13-17 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: Yes: Sixth grade students


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: FAIR School Crystal
Address: 3915 Adair Ave. N
City: Crystal
State: MN
Zip: 55441
Name: Plymouth Middle School
Address: 10011 36th Ave. N.
City: Plymouth
State: MN
Zip: 55441
Name: Robbinsdale Middle School
Address: 3730 Toledo Ave. N
City: Robbinsdale
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Sandburg Middle School
Address: 2400 Sandburg Lane
City: Golden Valley
State: MN
Zip: 55427
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: Ebook Instruction
Narrative: Robbinsdale middle schools enriched ebook collections with new titles that reflected the diversity of the student populations. Media specialists met with sixth grade classes to introduce the ebook platform and demonstrate how to search, download and read ebooks. By reading diverse ebooks, students saw themselves as readers and writers.

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 20
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 30
Number of times program administered: 40


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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Suburban
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: Yes: Sixth grade students


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: FAIR School Crystal
Address: 3915 Adair Ave. N
City: Crystal
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Plymouth Middle School
Address: 10011 36th Ave. N.
City: Plymouth
State: MN
Zip: 55441
Name: Robbinsdale Middle School
Address: 3730 Toledo Ave. N
City: Robbinsdale
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Sandburg MIddle School
Address: 2400 Sandburg Lane
City: Golden Valley
State: MN
Zip: 55427
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: Author Visits
Narrative: Four Robbinsdale middle schools hosted two to four author visits each. Five local authors spoke to sixth grade students about writing, publishing and reading. They inspired students to see themselves as writers and readers and encouraged them to acquire an attitude of gratitude and courage.

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: In-person


Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 45
Number of presentations/performances administered: 39
Average number in attendance per session: 53


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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Suburban
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: Yes: Sixth grade students


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: FAIR School Crystal
Address: 3915 Adair Ave. N
City: Crystal
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Plymouth Middle School
Address: 10011 36th Ave. N.
City: Plymouth
State: MN
Zip: 55441
Name: Robbinsdale Middle School
Address: 3730 Toledo Ave. N
City: Robbinsdale
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Sandburg Middle School
Address: 2400 Sandburg Lane
City: Golden Valley
State: MN
Zip: 55427
Activity Details
Title: Building and Diversifying Our Collections
Narrative: Robbinsdale middle schools enriched their collections with new books and ebooks for all students. Collection development focused on increasing the diversity of authors and characters inclusive of race, culture, religion and sexuality. New display units highlighted these new books to increase students' interest in reading.

Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 4
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 3,180
Number of electronic materials acquired: 163
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 16


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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Suburban
For what age groups: 6-12 years
13-17 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: Yes: Middle school students


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: FAIR School Crystal
Address: 3915 Adair Ave. N
City: Crystal
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Plymouth Middle School
Address: 10011 36th Ave. N.
City: Plymouth
State: MN
Zip: 55441
Name: Robbinsdale Middle School
Address: 3730 Toledo Ave. N
City: Robbinsdale
State: MN
Zip: 55422
Name: Sandburg Middle School
Address: 2400 Sandburg Lane
City: Golden Valley
State: MN
Zip: 55427
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Robbinsdale middle schools increased reading interest and improved achievement for sixth grade students by diversifying library collections, encouraging students to see themselves as readers and writers, and developing digital literacy skills. Students borrowed more library materials and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment reading scores increased at most schools. Most of the district's sixth grade teachers believed the grant activities had a positive influence on their students' attitudes about reading. A majority of respondents from a survey of sixth grade teachers agreed or strongly agreed that: Author visits encouraged more of their students to read (89 percent); Book talks encouraged more of their students to read (89 percent); More of their students completed their independent reading assignments compared to the previous year (56 percent); Students see themselves as readers (67 percent); The media center has a wide variety of books (78 percent); Students' digital skills increased (78 percent).
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Creating a culture of literacy through improved access to diverse reading materials, author role models, and creative projects had a positive impact on students' motivation to read. Collaboration between media specialists and teachers resulted in students' improved reading outcomes and will continue in the future.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
When media specialists provided activities like book talks, author visits and video creation to get kids excited about reading, they got excited and read more.
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:
The media centers will expand the project to grades seven and eight.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
Without grant funds, the school will not be able to host author visits or purchase as many books.
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: Middle school libraries, diversity