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G2S Project Code: 2018-NV-82138
State: Nevada
Fiscal Year: 2018
Grantee
Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records

Project Director
Director Name: Norma Fowler
Director Phone: 775-684-3407
Director Email: nfowler@admin.nv.gov
General Information
Title: Rural Bookmobiles
State Project Code: 18-18
Start Date: 07/01/2018
End Date: 06/30/2019
Abstract: Financial support is provided to three rural bookmobiles through a combination of funding from the State Legislature and the LSTA program. The three county library systems in Elko, Humboldt and Lincoln counties operate bookmobiles serving some of the most rural and isolated communities in the state. This project continued operational support costs for the counties named above. Types of facilities visited: Schools, Parks, Senior Center, Assisted Living Facilities, Daycares, Private residences, Mailboxes, and side-of-the-road.


Humboldt: "The Bookmobile has utilized the funds to purchase additions to the collection that have helped in the story time, Summer Learning, and Home-Bound programs that the Bookmobile offers. The Little Golden Books have proved popular by flying off the shelves at each stop, and the Playaways provide an easy source of entertainment for those who are constantly on the go, such as the farmers/ranchers working outside, in machinery and even on horseback."

Lincoln:  "Our goal this past year for the bookmobile was to bring communities together and the schools since they are such a great distance apart.  We wanted to do something different so we choose the “Hands On Bookmobile” to get the community inspired but basically just kept doing our usual bookmobile business." (The project involved going to all the schools and having the children put their hand prints on the bookmobile in bright paint colors. There are photos in Lincoln's final report.)

State Goal: Goal 3: Nevada libraries will provide responsive and accessible learning environments that meet the needs of all Nevada residents
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$26,000.00
$92,953.00
$18,000.00
$136,953.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Literacy
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Rural Bookmobiles
Narrative: Three library systems, Elko-Lander-Eureka County Library, Humboldt County Library, and Lincoln County Library, receive bookmobile operating costs support through both LSTA and state funds. Through local agreements, the three bookmobiles also serve residents in two additional counties, Pershing and White Pine. All of these counties are among the one hundred geographically largest
counties in the United States. The aggregate average population density of the seven counties served is 1.5 people per square mile.
The bookmobile services are well utilized and well appreciated. A representative sampling of stops include daycares, schools, parks, general stores, the post office, ranches, senior care facilities, honor camps, and "wide spots in the road" such as rural mailboxes. The bookmobiles provide the same range of materials as their parent libraries including print, DVD, ebooks, audiobooks, and Playaways.


Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

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


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 30,530
Average number of items circulated / month: 2,544
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
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: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Elko-Lander-Eureka County Library System
Address: 720 Court St.
City: Elko
State: NV
Zip: 89801
Name: Humboldt County Library
Address: 85 East 5th St.
City: Winnemucca
State: NV
Zip: 89445
Name: Lincoln County Library
Address: 63 Main St.
City: Pioche
State: NV
Zip: 89043
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The proposed outcomes for this project related to quality of life and users who would otherwise be unable to select their own library materials. The annual statistics from the bookmobiles provide quantitative evidence of achieving those outcomes. Humboldt: Visitors: 4,160 Circulation: 15,575 Miles traveled: 13,832 Lincoln: Visitors: 1,454 Circulation: 1,891 Miles traveled: 4,007 Elko: (from FY19 PLS - not finalized) Visitors: 4,097 Circulation: 13,064 Totals: Visitors: 9,711 Circulation: 30,530 Miles traveled: 17,839 (Humboldt and Lincoln only; Elko did not report) Humboldt distributed 115 surveys. 110 respondents agree or strongly agreed with all 5 of the LSTA questions on the survey. 5 people were neutral or disagreed.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
From Humboldt County Bookmobile final report: Listen to what your patrons want, with such a small collection and a high turnover rate, it is important to maximize space with requested items and those you know will be popular. Know your patrons and the collection you provide. When building new item lists for collection development, have specific stops and patrons in mind for the items that you select. You can try new items and get them to branch out, but be aware of what circulates and practice good readers advisory skills with your patrons. Present new materials in your programming and story times and be open to suggestions and criticism to improve future collections. From Lincoln County Bookmobile final report: (Lincoln County bookmobile did a special project this year involving the preschools and elementary schools in the county) We learned that the schools have different values and teaching styles and each community has their own needs. That our schools have great libraries and resources for their students but still enjoyed the fact that the county libraries would help supplement if we needed to help.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The Nevada rural bookmobiles were begun with State funding and have been supported by State funds from the beginning, but the level of funding was reduced during the Great Recession and has not been brought back up to the level needed to support bookmobile operations. LSTA funding has been used to make up some of the difference between pre-recession funding and current funding levels. If State funding returns to an adequate level, LSTA funds will no longer be required.
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: