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G2S Project Code: 2017-MN-79955
State: Minnesota
Fiscal Year: 2017

Grantee
St. Paul Public Schools, IDS 625

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn French
Director Phone: 651-744-6065
Director Email: dawn.french@spps.org

General Information
Title: Student Choice in Middle School Libraries
State Project Code:
Start Date: 11/20/2017
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract:

The Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) Student Choice Reading Program encouraged greater student interactions with existing library materials and relied on students to identify resources to update library collections at SPPS middle schools. Through the program, teachers and librarians collaborated to teach students to write and share book reviews, encouraged independent reading, and provided students the opportunity to pick books to add to their library’s collection. The result was greater student engagement with libraries, their resources, and more relevant, diversified and up-to-date book selections for students. A total of 4,347 books were purchased for the eight participating middle schools. Students submitted 1160 book reviews to their school library’s catalog or Schoology group.

All sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at the participating middle schools were invited to join the program and librarians promoted the program 142 times from January-May 2017 (lessons, class visits, Schoology posts, school newsletter articles). Librarians worked with an English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at their building to co-create two lesson plans on writing book reviews. A total of 14 lesson plans were created and presented to students through ELA and reading classes during the active programming period from January-May. If a student read and reviewed a book from the library’s current collection, they could select a new book to add to the library. For each 50 students at a school who completed a review, librarians could select a makerspace kit. Eight schools selected 83 makerspace resources/materials.

State Goal: Increase access to library resources

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$69,158.43

$0.00

$69,158.43

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Education
Literacy

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Student Book Review Instruction
Narrative:

Librarians collaborated with ELA teachers to create and co-teach lessons to teach students how to write book reviews. The lessons focused on critical reading analysis and writing skills. The program incentivized students to read independently and write book reviews by rewarding them with the opportunity to choose books for their school’s library collection. The program supported growth in critical reading analysis and writing skills. It also provided opportunity to incorporate library resources further into academic learning. Students were encouraged to read and could record or write up their review of the book. Reviews were published in the school’s library catalog. After writing a book review, students were able to select a book to add to their school’s library collection. The program brought more students into the library where librarians provided readers’ advisory services and helped students find books of interest at their reading level.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 33
Number of sessions in program: 2
Average number in attendance per session: 26
Number of times program administered: 77

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: Urban
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: No

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Battle Creek Middle School
Address: 2121 N Park Dr
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55119
Name: Creative Arts Secondary School
Address: 65 E Kellogg Blvd
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55101
Name: Farnsworth Aerospace Upper Campus
Address: 1000 N Walsh St
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55106
Name: Highland Park Middle School
Address: 975 Snelling Ave S
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55116
Name: Humboldt Secondary School
Address: 30 Baker St E
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55107
Name: Murray Middle School
Address: 2200 Buford Avenue
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55108
Name: Open World Learning Community
Address: 640 Humboldt Ave
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55107
Name: Ramsey Middle School
Address: 1700 Summit Ave
City: Saint Paul
State: MN
Zip: 55105
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: Writing Book Reviews
Narrative:

Students were invited to read and write reviews for books from their school library’s current collection. The reviews were published. We set a goal of 350 book reviews for the project and librarians at the eight schools reported that they received 1160 reviews. We were pleased that we far exceeded our goal. Students who participated by writing book reviews mirrored district demographics with 23% of the reviews completed by African American students, 21% completed by Asian or Pacific Islanderstudents, 11% by Hispanic/Latino students, 35% white students and 2% AmericanIndian students. The program had nearly equal participation at all three middle school grade levels, with approximately ⅓ of reviews coming from each. Slightly more females participated in the program with 54% of the book reviews completed by females and 46% by males.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 1,160
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Curriculum Writing
Narrative:

At each participating middle school, the librarian worked with an ELA or reading teacher to plan two lessons that introduced the project and taught students about writing good book reviews. The lessons were a crucial piece in moving the project forward and created strong connections between the librarians, ELA and reading teachers. The lessons were delivered multiple times to ELA and reading classes at each of the participating middle schools.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 14
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Updating Library Collections
Narrative:

Through this project, we set a goal of increasing studentaccess to more and newer resources in their middle school libraries. We wereable to add 4347 new books to the eight participating SPPS middle school libraries. Through the process of engaging students in writing book reviews and making book purchasing selections we believe students will usethe school library more often because they will be more familiar with thematerials and resources available. The students also gained experience reading and analyzing through writing book reviews.

Librarians were able to select Makerspace resources for thelibrary after 50 students completed book reviews. A total of 83 materials/supplies wereacquired for Makerspaces and were distributed to participating middle schools.Some of the schools did not earn their Maker Space until the end of the schoolyear, so they did not receive their Maker Space materials until September. Theinflux of new materials and increased engagement resulted in improvedcirculation numbers for the eight participating schools. A target identified inthe grant was a 10% increase in circulation. Circulation, including ebooks, increased by 7%. In 2016-17 circulation was 62,131ebooks/physical books checked out and in 2017-18 it was 66,159. Ebook use increased 140% from 8,563 in2016-17 to 20,570 in 2017-18.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 83
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0

Partner Information

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
SPPS made great strides in accomplishing the goals of the LSTA grant. The work of the librarians, ELA teachers and students increased students’ engagement, interest and familiarity with the library resources. The Student Choice Reading Program was successful in increasing student engagement with independent reading and overall interest in the library. In the fall of 2018, 71% of students reported they visited their library to check out books for fun, up from 60% in the winter from 2017-18. Other reasons students indicated they visited the library included doing research for class projects (55%) and to explore new ideas/learn new skills (30%). The program received notable interest from students with 1160 book reviews completed, more than triple the set goal of 350 reviews. After surveying students over the course of the grant, on average, 90% of students visited the library, 50% requested specific books be ordered for the library, and 75% indicated the library has the books they want to read. The average copyright of book collections increased from 1999 to 2001, meeting the goal set for the grant. Through the book reviews and book choices, librarians gained insight into the reading interests of students at their school. Further, the diversity of students writing book reviews and selecting new books means the interests and new books will be just as diverse.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
For future programming, based on the results, our goal will be to include student voice and choice in the library program and library collection development as much as possible. Students were excited about the books that they chose and we hope that translates into continued use of the library and student awareness that they can request books be added to their school library collection. Student requests ranged from the popular to the obscure. They requested fiction, graphic novels and nonfiction. We will now be able to track circulation over this school year and see if the student selected materials circulate more than other materials. This could inform our collection development practices moving forward.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Based on outputs, outcomes and/or other results, explain any significant lessons learned from this project that may benefit other libraries in Minnesota or the United States. From the Participating Librarians: ● This program didn't really get any momentum with our students until our new library books started arriving. They needed to see a physical result of the program before they were really invested in writing book reviews. Make sure your vendor can ship deliveries within 2 weeks. ● The students are excited to come to the library. They have invested their time and energy in helping select books for themselves and their classmates to read. ● We need to think carefully about the needs of our target audience when we are developing incentive-based programming. Middle-schoolers tend to be more focused on the current moment rather than long-term possibilities, and they respond well to prompt rewards. Additionally, we should consider a variety of ways to encourage everyone in our community (readers and non/reluctant readers alike) to become more engaged with texts, as the strategies used with one group may not be as effective with the next.
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:
Yes
Explain:
Librarians reported that they would gather less data on the program as it moves forward. If yes, please briefly describe any changes in the project’s scope. Seven of the participating schools plan on continuing the Middle School Choice Reading Program, and two additional schools have decided to join the program. An Ecolab grant will fund the program, though the number of books that students can select will decrease.
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: School Library