View Project

G2S Project Code: 2019-MO-82629
State: Missouri
Fiscal Year: 2019
Grantee
JEFFERSON COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT

Project Director
Director Name: Pamela Withrow
Director Phone: 636-677-8689
Director Email: pwithrow@jeffcolib.org
General Information
Title: AUV: Little House on the Prairie: Caroline Fraser
State Project Code: 2019-LCP9-AUV19CN9-9317
Start Date: 01/18/2019
End Date: 10/31/2019
Abstract: This grant brought Pulitzer Prize-winning author Caroline Fraser to Jefferson County. The lead library was Jefferson County Library with partner libraries of Jefferson College Library, De Soto Public Library, and Festus Public Library. Monetary support was also provided by the Missouri Humanities Council, Jefferson College's PACE Program, Ameren Missouri, and the Arnold Tourism Commission. Fraser presented information from her biography Prairie Fires, which discusses Laura Ingalls Wilder's life as it relates to frontier life, Westward Expansion, Indigenous Peoples, and the history of Missouri.
State Goal: Target Library and Information Services
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$5,000.00
$0.00
$2,500.00
$7,500.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
History
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Author Presentation
Narrative: This author visit was conducted in partnership with Jefferson County Library, Jefferson College Library, De Soto Public Library, and Festus Public Library. LSTA funds supported the author’s speaker fees. Additional funding to support the author and promotional costs was provided by the Missouri Humanities Council, Jefferson College’s PACE program, Ameren Missouri, and the Arnold Tourism Commission. Northwest R-1 and Fox C-6 School Districts provided venues at no cost.

Three presentations were held with 339 in attendance. A grant support visit for this project was conducted, with a Missouri State Library staff person attending the event at the Fox C-6 location, which used an interview format.  Library staff, board members, and partner staff were out in full force, ready with a welcoming greeting. Surveys for those in attendance to complete were on the chairs. C-SPAN cameras were set up as the presentation was to be part of their American History TV show. There were sign language interpreters available for the hearing impaired.

The Missouri State Library staff person spoke with Jefferson College’s Library Director, who indicated this was the thirty-seventh and final event provided by partners surrounding this author visit. The College provided guest lectures throughout the summer. The Libraries provided Little House themed activities as part of their summer reading program. All activities encouraged attendees to explore the challenges of pioneer life and debunk myths associated with it. Associated costs and statistics were only provided for the actual author presentations.

The author presentation was promoted extensively online through a LibGuide, social media posts, flyers posted in libraries, bookmarks distributed to patrons, flyers and an art contest distributed to K-12 schools and a Senior's Fair, seed packets with a specially-designed event label given out at Prairie Days and the Farmer's Market, marketing brochures mailed to area residents and distributed at the college, newspaper and newsletter articles, local media presentations, and a community calendar.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 113
Number of times program administered: 3


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: Fox C-6 School District
Address: 745 Jeffco Blvd
City: Arnold
State: MO
Zip: 63010
Name: Jefferson College
Address: 1000 Viking Drive
City: Hillsboro
State: MO
Zip: 63050-2440
Name: JEFFERSON COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 5678 STATE ROAD PP
City: HIGH RIDGE
State: MO
Zip: 63049
Name: NORTHWEST R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT
Address: 4290 GRAVOIS RD
City: HOUSE SPRINGS
State: MO
Zip: 63051
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 86
Agree: 59
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 3
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 59
Agree: 71
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 14
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 4
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 26
Agree: 53
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 60
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 10
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 40
Agree: 65
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 32
Disagree: 4
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 8
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 41
Agree: 71
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 29
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 9
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
To the prompt, "Will attend more library programs", attendee survey responses were 2 Strongly Disagree, 0 Disagree, 25 Neither Agree nor Disagree, 64 Agree and 56 Strongly Agree. To the prompt, "Will seek out books by this author", attendee survey responses were 2 Strongly Disagree, 4 Disagree, 22 Neither Agree nor Disagree, 63 Agree and 54 Strongly Agree.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The success of the author visit is an affirmation of the Library's plans to host a major author event every couple of years.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Partnering with Jefferson College Library was critical to the project's success. Staff from both libraries worked together on grant applications and obtaining local donations for advertising expenses. Without the efforts of partners in promoting the event, it was felt attendance would have been significantly diminished.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
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: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThe partnership and wrap-around activities provided an excellent model for other libraries to follow.
Project Tags: Literacy Programs