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G2S Project Code: 2017-CT-79105
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2017

Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn La Valle
Director Phone: 860-757-6665
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov

General Information
Title: Professional Development
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2016
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract: The CT State Library provides continuing education for all librarians and library staff in Connecticut in order to allow them to work more effectively and efficiently and to serve their communities better. These educational sessions were offered in person at the Middletown Library Service Center and at some public libraries around the state. In addition, the Service Center provides a collection of professional development books that can be borrowed by any library employee in Connecticut for as long as needed and without fines.

State Goal: Literacies and learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$53,751.00

$0.00

$53,751.00

Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Continuing Education and Staff Development

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Continuing Education Workshops
Narrative:

Classes were offered as half-day or full-day workshops covering a range of subjects relevant to library work, such as library management, strategic communications, book repair, and customer service. Most workshops were held at the Middletown Library Service Center, with others held at four public libraries.

CSL partnered with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services on mental health awareness training and with Connecticut law librarians on legal reference. CSL partnered with the Connecticut Library Association on the daylong program "Everyone Included: Talking About Diversity in Books for Children & Teens" attended by 60 participants. In addition, CSL hosted a group viewing of the PLA Virtual Conference in March 2018.

CSL hosted a workshop on "Media Smart @ Your Library" by Dr. Valerie Karno of the University of Rhode Island's GSLIS as part of the Media Smart Libraries project #LG-07-14-0045-14, funded by IMLS. CSL also provided working lunches for participants in the EXCITE program funded by IMLS grant #RE-95-17-0068-17.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 197
Number of sessions in program: 30
Average number in attendance per session: 15
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

Public Libraries: 166
Academic Libraries: 22
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 6
School Libraries: 23
Other: 2

Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 267
Agree: 76
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 8
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 206
Agree: 134
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 11
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 249
Agree: 92
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 7
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 1
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 248
Agree: 88
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 11
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 2

Activity Details
Title: Professional Development Collection
Narrative: The circulating professional development collection supports the continuing education program with well-researched professional publications. CSL is able to offer a much larger and richer collection of professional development materials than any single library could afford to acquire. The collection grows each year with a standing order of new ALA publications as well as orders of individual titles from other publishers and vendors. These materials are shelved at the Middletown Library Service Center and are discoverable through the online catalog. Often, participants who are attending workshops at the Service Center will browse the shelves to select useful titles, or librarians will request them through the online catalog for delivery by deliverIT, another LSTA-funded project. This year, librarians borrowed 544 items from this collection.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

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: 102
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Connecticut State Library
Address: 231 Capitol Avenue
City: Hartford
State: CT
Zip: 06106-1537
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 37
Agree: 18
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 6
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 39
Agree: 14
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 6
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 7

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
See Additional Materials for evaluation comments and anecdotes about professional development workshops and collection.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Based on the strong responses to the workshop "Everyone Included: Talking about Diversity in Books for Children & Teens," CSL is planning a follow-up program on LGBTQIA+ issues for October 2018. Based on responses from the survey about the professional development collection, CSL will consider acquiring some professional titles as ebooks.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

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:
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: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeStrong positive responses to programs such as "Everyone Included: Talking about Diversity in Books for Children & Teens" show that these programs are much-needed in the library community. The Library Management Series and the Strategic Communication Series are ongoing, in-demand offerings each year with strong attendance. CT State Library is in a leadership position to be able to fund and organize forward-thinking statewide training.

Project Tags: CE