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G2S Project Code: 2019-CA-83236
State: California
Fiscal Year: 2019

Grantee
Humboldt State University

Project Director
Director Name: Louis Knecht
Director Phone: 707-826-4072
Director Email: louis.knecht@humboldt.edu

General Information
Title: Innovative Digital Literacies
State Project Code: 40-8949
Start Date: 07/01/2019
End Date: 08/31/2020
Abstract: Through the Innovative Digital Literacies project, Humboldt State University, Humboldt County Library, and Arcata Chamber of Commerce worked together to increase access to technology among students and other community members, and support lifelong learning, digital literacy, and job-seeking in rural Humboldt County. The project provided students and community members—many of whom are low-income with limited access to technology—with access to Chromebooks, digital literacy workshops, and a business showcase day.

State Goal: Goal 3: Inspire, Support, & Engage Communities

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$99,870.00

$0.00

$2,822.00

$102,692.00

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

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Google Suite Workshops
Narrative: The workshops enabled participants to engage with Chromebook technology and focused on introducing them to the apps and capabilities of the Google Suite, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Highlighting common day to day tasks such as creating documents, organizing information with spreadsheets, and displaying concepts with Google Slides, these workshops provided insight to a cost effective way to utilizing programs similar to Microsoft Suite but use the cloud for primary storage. Explanation of the concept and functionality of cloud storage was essential to understanding digital file storage and the ubiquitous nature of the cloud as a method of data storage.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 6
Number of times program administered: 1

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: HUMBOLDT COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 1313 THIRD ST.
City: EUREKA
State: CA
Zip: 95501
Name: Humboldt State University
Address: 1 Harpst Street
City: Arcata
State: CA
Zip: 95521-8299
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 18
Agree: 6
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 11
Agree: 10
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 5
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 18
Agree: 8
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 20
Agree: 7
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: 13
Agree: 12
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 1

Activity Details
Title: Humboldt Digitization Days
Narrative: Community members were invited to come to Humboldt State University Special Collections and learn how to digitize their own documents and photographs while also utilizing the equipment to start their own personal or family digital archive. Rather than acquire Humboldt community records, this post-custodial framework to archiving allows the community participants to be stewards of their own historically significant materials rather than bequeathing them to a repository. Best practices in digitizing and file format preservation were also discussed in one-on-one preservation appointments.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 35
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): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Professional Development Workshops
Narrative: The Professional Development workshop series was intended to prepare participants for the local Humboldt job market. They focused on attendee career interest, researching that interest, and seeking position openings geared towards that. In collaboration with the Employment Development Department, these workshops provided strategies for reading job applications and position descriptions while using that literacy to write effective cover letters and resumes. Example resume and cover letters were provided by the EDD and staff are on site to review and provide feedback for these job application documents.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Combined in-person & virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 4
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

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: HUMBOLDT COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 1313 THIRD ST.
City: EUREKA
State: CA
Zip: 95501
Name: Humboldt State University
Address: 1 Harpst Street
City: Arcata
State: AK
Zip: 95521-8299
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 4
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: 2
Agree: 2
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: 3
Agree: 1
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: 3
Agree: 1
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: 4
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Laptop/ Chromebook Lending Service
Narrative: From the period of November 2019 to March 2020 the Chromebooks purchased through the LSTA Innovative Digital Literacies Grant were circulated to students, staff, and faculty of Humboldt State University. This laptop lending service is vital to providing the necessary technology for interacting with coursework, the campus community, and happenings in the Humboldt region at large. As a university that has a considerable population of students from low-income backgrounds, the library's laptop lending service is essential to providing financially equitable access to technology. A major need this grant has successfully addressed is the depleted capacity of available laptops during busy lending periods to the point where students are sent away unable to checkout a laptop. Since the procurement of the set of 48 new laptops this happenstance has yet to transpire and with an added 26 laptops this initial need appears to have been directly addressed and alleviated.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 2,682
Average number of items circulated / month: 536
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 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: Rural
For what age groups: 18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 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: Yes: College Students

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Humboldt State University
Address: 1 Harpst Street
City: Arcata
State: AK
Zip: 95521-8299

Activity Details
Title: Chromebook Acquisition
Narrative: To increase the lending capacity of Humboldt State University Library's Access Services department, Chromebook technology was purchased. A large percentage of students at HSU come from low income families and do not have the resources to own a computer device. This makes our laptop lending service extremely critical as much of the university experience incorporates online learning and classroom engagement. Given the circumstance of the Covid-19 pandemic this further helped our capabilities in assisting students who do not own computers/laptops to operate in their online classroom settings. A total of 74 laptops were purchased with accompanying charge carts and charging cords along with a utility wagon to carry the laptops to the Humboldt County Library for digital literacy and professional development workshops.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 74
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: 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: Rural
For what age groups: 18-25 years
26-49 years
For what economic types: Below Poverty
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: Yes: College Students

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Humboldt State University
Address: 1 Harpst Street
City: Arcata
State: CA
Zip: 95521-8299

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
A major challenge to the success of this grant has actually transformed into a pivot of the way in which the Humboldt community understands the necessity of digital literacy as a lifelong learning skill. With the Covid-19 pandemic requiring all library programming and library spaces to be closed, right when consistent attendance to the digital literacy workshops was being reached, a major decision on how to proceed with the grant had to be made. In continued collaboration with the Humboldt County Library, tutorials on operating the Zoom communication platform enhanced the public library user's familiarity with the services and programming of the Humboldt County Library. With many programs and events moving to Zoom it was important to develop these tutorials and allow them to serve as a stepping stone to user-library engagement throughout the pandemic while the physical location remains closed. Through connections on the Humboldt State University campus, the TRiO Upward Bound program which provides summer college immersion classes to first generation high school students had reached out to conduct a series of workshops, synchronous virtual learning opportunities, and virtual help appointments to staff and students of the program related to Google Suite and the Google Classroom. Leveraging the experience of the Google Suite workshops with the county public library, this permitted the strengthening of relationships between the HSU Library and the campus auxiliary program of TRiO Upward Bound. It also managed to reach an age demographic that was not anticipated for a majority of the grant proposal (teenagers between 15-18). Outreach and services of the Humboldt region's only public university often overlook the surrounding high school student population, particularly the first generation group of high school students, which is the exact target demographic TRiO Upward Bound aims to service. Having contributed to this program’s first all virtual experience with its students fostered a partnership that the HSU Library will remain actively a part of.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
At the heart of the Innovative Digital Literacies Grant programming there has consistently been an emphasis on community outreach, collaboration with local partners, and educating the public on computer skills necessary for day to day life. This dedication to partnerships with the Humboldt County Public Library and Humboldt State University’s Upward Bound program have helped the university library share its access to resources for the education of community members on technology uses for tasks in everyday life. It has also helped incorporate high school students (teenagers) as a demographic engaged with in the programming incorporated in the Innovative Digital Literacies Grant. These are crucial to the region for future programming that the HSU Library and Humboldt County Public Library offer as the method and modality in which services, learning opportunities, and events are held will shift in the aftermath of the current pandemic. This pandemic has demonstrated the need for distanced interaction through digital technologies that range from communication to creating documents and spreadsheets for everyday purposes. This can set the stage for further collaborations, especially between the Humboldt County Public Library and the university. As a highly utilized public service for a variety of reasons, the public library - HSU Library partnership will develop into a myriad of other programming that fulfills community needs. This essential partnership also increases community engagement beyond HSU’s campus and university affiliates through direct services to the public and other demographics often not included in HSU programs and learning opportunities.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Whether the community is large or small, it can always benefit when entities collaborate to support the success and prosperity of that region. For the Innovative Digital Literacies Grant the partnership between a university and public library was critical in engaging in public programming from a Humboldt State University Library perspective. Often caught up in the support of the functions of the college campus, university departments including its libraries tend to focus on success and services within. A major framework for guiding this grant’s programming has been to connect with the county public library, to which the public is most familiar, and fulfill a need for computer skills to interact with everyday life in an environment where digital literacy and its education to the public have been in short supply. Facilitating workshops that welcome all participants regardless of experience and knowledge backgrounds that center on open-source (free option) platforms such as the Google Suite, Canva, and PDF viewership has been critical to improving technology competency in the community. The work between the public library and university library also shows the community participants that institutions and entities are pooling their resources, expertise, and staff to support these regional needs of digital literacy. Critical to carrying out programming outlined in a grant is being flexible. A major lesson learned in continuing efforts of the grant amidst an unprecedented outbreak of Covid-19 and ensuing pandemic was being able to pivot efforts to still meet grant goals and intended outcomes. As all in-person workshops were canceled following mid March, a major part of the grant project, virtual learning became essential for library patrons and fit perfectly within the scope of digital literacy. By creating tutorials on interacting with Zoom to be hosted on the public library website patrons can learn the method in which the public library will continue to have virtual programming during this period of social distancing and sheltering in place. Using the workshop subject matter of the Google Suite to help teach staff and students of the TRiO Upward Bound organization also was critical in strengthening relationships with an HSU auxiliary, grant programming reaching out to a demographic yet impacted by the workshops, and assisting the organization in what has been their first all-online offering of the summer immersion program. Being flexible with programs, events, and activities proposed in the Innovative Digital Literacies Grant has been understood as changing the method of the programming while still connecting it directly to the mission and goals of the grant project. This flexibility is essential as many unforeseeable circumstances may affect the carrying out of grant initiatives but goals can be achieved from a multitude of angles.
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: Workforce Development, Digital Literacy