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G2S Project Code: 2017-MN-79956
State: Minnesota
Fiscal Year: 2017

Grantee
WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn LaBrosse
Director Phone: 651-275-8522
Director Email: dawn.labrosse@co.washington.mn.us

General Information
Title: Read to Me: Babies Need Words Every Day
State Project Code:
Start Date: 11/09/2017
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract:

Washington County Library partnered with Washington County Public Health and Environment to provide literacy rich educational opportunities for families facing barriers. Parents of at-risk newborns received an early literacy “Read to Me” bag with resources and materials during WIC clinic and public health nurse home visits. Newborns received their first book and parents left the visits understanding the importance of reading to their baby and with tips for doing so. Over the course of the grant period, 781 Read to Me totes were distributed.

State Goal: Increase access to library resources

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$32,120.00

$0.00

$4,124.16

$36,244.16

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Parenting & Family skills
Early Literacy

Activities
Activity Details
Title: WIC Clinic Visits
Narrative: Washington County Library staff visited WIC clinics during peak times to informally visit with families. During visits, library staff shared information about library resources and early literacy development. As a result of these visits, the library made connections with new families and were able to share helpful resources

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: In-person

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 8
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 2

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: 0-5 years
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Asian
Black
Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Cottage Grove WIC Clinic
Address: 13000 Ravine Pkwy S
City: Cottage Grove
State: MN
Zip: 55016
Name: Forest Lake WIC Clinic
Address: 19955 Forest Road North
City: Forest Lake
State: MN
Zip: 55025
Name: Washington County Public Health
Address: 14949 62nd Street N
City: Stillwater
State: MN
Zip: 55082

Activity Details
Title: Read to Me Pop Up Library
Narrative: Pop up libraries consisting of toddler sized bookshelves along with a collection of board books were created at each WIC clinic. Age appropriate books were available for parents and children to read together while waiting. Pop up libraries were branded with the Read to Me logo and included parent messaging prompts about language development. The libraries provided parents and infants with access to books and a literacy rich environment while waiting for providers.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 3
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 80
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 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: Suburban
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Asian
Black
Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Cottage Grove WIC Clinic
Address: 13000 Ravine Parkway S
City: Cottage Grove
State: MN
Zip: 55016
Name: Forest Lake WIC
Address: 19955 Forest Road North
City: Forest Lake
State: MN
Zip: 55025
Name: Washington County Public Health - Stillwater WIC Clinic
Address: 14949 62nd Street North
City: Stillwater
State: MN
Zip: 55082

Activity Details
Title: Read to Me Totes
Narrative: The Read to Me totes provided parents with the tools, resources and knowledge to create literacy-rich experiences for their children and begin bridging the 30 million word gap. Parents were introduced to the library and gained increased awareness about the importance of shared reading and language exposure in infants. Parents were reminded of their role in a child’s developed and were supported in reading, talking, and singing with their babies more frequently. Infants were provided with literacy rich experiences and a home environment with books. Through early exposure to books and words every day, these infants are on track to reach literacy development milestones.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Physical
Other: 2500 Read to Me Totes were created

Quantity

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: Suburban
For what age groups: 0-5 years
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Asian
Black
Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Cottage Grove WIC Clinic
Address: 13000 Ravine Parkway South
City: Cottage Grove
State: MN
Zip: 55016
Name: Forest Lake WIC Clinic
Address: 19955 Forest Road North
City: Forest Lake
State: MN
Zip: 55025
Name: Stillwater WIC Clinic
Address: 14949 62nd Street North
City: Stillwater
State: MN
Zip: 55082

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Each family received an invitation to visit the library and get their baby’s first library card. Parents who already had a family library card were invited to upgrade to a new design. On the back of the invitation, six questions asked for feedback about their experience with the literacy materials in the tote and pop up libraries. Twenty families completed the survey (out of 23 who were issued new library cards). Results were overwhelming positive about the impact of the materials and their intention to read aloud to their child and develop other literacy practices. Public health staff recorded observations which also affirmed the families' excitement about the program.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The results and findings from this project will help guide our efforts to reach parents and infants, particularly those that are typically underserved. We will use the feedback, lessons learned and successes from this project as we continue to identify ways to engage parents and infants as part of the library’s strategic pre-k learning initiative. The survey questions will help us rethink how we design, plan and implement early learning programs and help move toward outcome based evaluations.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The most important take away from this project is how important, beneficial and impactful it is to partner with other county departments. Like many libraries, we often have difficulty finding ways to reach families that don’t already use the library or know about library resources, or those who face barriers to using the library. By partnering with Public Health we were able to remove barriers and meet families where they are – at WIC clinics and in their homes. The library was equipped with the subject expertise, content products and funding; we simply needed a way to get it into the hands of those most in need.
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: early literacy