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G2S Project Code: 2019-CA-83242
State: California
Fiscal Year: 2019

Grantee
OCEANSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Marie Town
Director Phone: 760-435-5597
Director Email: mtown@oceansideca.org

General Information
Title: Set Up To Succeed- Library Cards For All Students
State Project Code: 40-8955
Start Date: 07/01/2019
End Date: 08/31/2020
Abstract: Oceanside Public Library, through the Set Up To Succeed - Library Cards for all Students program, has partnered with the Oceanside Unified School District to help all students, in grades Kindergarten to 12th, obtain Oceanside Public Library cards. The objectives of the project were to inform students, families and educators of Library materials and services available to them and to increase access to Library resources through programming, tours, and outreach. The project was designed to support students' educational efforts and set them up to succeed in their academic, career, and life pursuits. Due to the COVID19 closures, Library staff adapted the original provision of activities/programs to other methods as described in this report.
State Goal: Goal 1: Equitable Access

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$58,000.00

$0.00

$26,864.00

$84,864.00

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Education
After-school activities

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Program - Special Events
Narrative: 4 special events were held at the Civic Center and Mission Branch Libraries to encourage Oceanside Unified School District families to visit the Library and use the resources and services available to students with their Library Cards. The special events were centered around popular themes or book series, including Harry Potter, Camp Read S'mores, Dog Man Police Academy, and Peace, Love & Books, to increase attendance and awareness of how to access their Library services. The programs consisted of arts and craft activities, special guest demonstrations by teen volunteers with the El Camino High School Drama Club and the Oceanside Police Department K-9 unit, a family movie, and games.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 100
Number of times program administered: 4

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: Suburban
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: Yes
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: OCEANSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 330 N. COAST HIGHWAY
City: OCEANSIDE
State: CA
Zip: 92054
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 44
Agree: 34
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 9
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 38
Agree: 33
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 17
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 35
Agree: 32
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 20
Disagree: 1
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: 88
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 59
Agree: 23
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 5
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Program - Library Tours
Narrative: 40 Library tours were conducted at the Civic Center Library in partnership with Oceanside Unified School District and Oceanside Museum of Art as part of the Literacy Through Art program. 40 Oceanside Unified School District 3^rd grade classes, and the teachers and parents who accompanied them, visited the Library and received a tour and overview of services and resources available to them, completed a poetry art activity, and were provided information about Set Up To Succeed - Library Cards for All Students, as all of the students participating were registered Library Card users with their School Student ID working as their barcode.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 40
Average number in attendance per session: 29
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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Suburban
For what age groups: 6-12 years
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
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: Oceanside Museum of Art
Address: 704 Pier Way
City: Oceanside
State: CA
Zip: 92054
Name: Oceanside Unified School District
Address: 2111 Mission Avenue
City: Oceanside
State: CA
Zip: 92054
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 26
Agree: 12
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 23
Agree: 14
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 25
Agree: 13
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 1
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: 41
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 27
Agree: 12
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Presentation - Outreach
Narrative: Library staff conducted 8 outreach presentations at elementary and high school and City community resource sites promoting the Set Up To Succeed - Library Cards for All Students and how families, educators and students can access beneficial Library services and resources. These outreach presentations were directed at school library media techs, librarians, and educators, parents, and students, five of the eight presentations were done alongside the Library's Bookmobile visiting the sites, and included a presentation on how students could use their Library Cards, access print and electronic resources, and staff demonstrated some of what STEM or art activities are available to them through the Library. Library staff planned to conduct at least 6 more visits but were unable to do so due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which closed the Library March 17, 2020. Each presentation was about 90 minutes long with 44 attendees each on average.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: In-person

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 90
Number of presentations/performances administered: 8
Average number in attendance per session: 44

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Presentation - Informational & Promotional Videos
Narrative: Two videos promoting the Set Up To Succeed - Library Cards for All Students and Library resources and services were presented with the help of KOCT, the local nonprofit public, education, government live stream channel. One video was used to primarily inform school educators and was distributed to 23 school principals and emailed to the library media techs. The second promotional video for the project was used to inform students and families about the Set Up To Succeed - Library Cards for All Students projects and the Library's electronic resources available to them through the project, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The second video was emailed to all 23 School District families through PeachJar, played on the KOCT local news channel periodically, and posted on the Library's web site and through various social media channels, including the Library's Facebook and Instagram accounts and the City of Oceanside - Government Facebook page. Additionally, it will be shared at online parent workshops hosted by the School District. No method was arranged to count the number of views for these videos. As such, the "Average number of attendance per session" question in #5 below cannot be answered. One video is three minutes in length and one video is five minutes in length, averaging four minutes.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 4
Number of presentations/performances administered: 2
Average number in attendance per session: 0

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Creation - Various Promotion, Presentation, and Information Items
Narrative: 2,500 Print Set Up To Succeed special event calendars and 2 large Student Library Card posters were purchased to promote student Library Card use at Library and outreach events; 8,474 physical student Library cards, with student School ID Numbers, were created for grades kindergarten through fifth grade; 7,153 informational rack cards were created and distributed to middle and high school students; 2,500 additional informational rack cards were purchased and distributed to middle and high school students; 1,576 replacement Library cards were created for students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade; 7,848 physical student Library cards, 8,000 informational letters and 8,000 electronic resources print flyers were created and mailed to Oceanside Unified School District kindergarten through fifth grade students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Physical

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 46,053
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: Lending - Children's and Teen Books
Narrative: 460 children's and tween and 202 teen print books comprised of high school classics, books that support the Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) curriculum, and popular and diverse children's titles were added to the Library's circulating collection to meet the increased demand with new and additional student Library card users. The circulating titles were added from November 2019 to July 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the majority of titles did not circulate because the Library shut down mid-March 2020 and the primary vendor used, Baker & Taylor, did not ship the titles until mid-summer 2020. The total circulation for the items was 1055 and over an eleven-month period, from November 2019 to September 2020, the average circulation per month is 96.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 662
Average number of items circulated / month: 96
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0

Partner Information

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Library staff had to shift its project activities with the Library and School closing. Library staff redirected funds to purchase more popular, diverse and educational books for the children, tween and teen circulating collections; Library cards for students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade were mailed out to 7,848 Oceanside Unified School District students and included informational materials on how to access Library e-resources, e books and e-audiobooks and sign up for home delivery of materials; and when the Library was able to bring back the grant-funded staff for this project mid-June, they promoted use of student Library card and Library resources at three summer meal elementary school sites throughout Oceanside, June to August 2020, and helped create a promotional video, focusing on highlight e-resources, for families that was distributed electronically and shared online in September 2020 at the start of the new Oceanside Unified School District school year.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The outcomes from this project were extremely positive as demonstrated with over ninety percent of students, educators and parents and caregivers surveyed reporting that they felt that they learned something, were more aware of Library resources and services, and likely to use additional Library resources and services because of this project. However, while it is still positive that around eighty percent reported that they found what they were looking for, felt welcome at the library, and intend to return to the Library because of their participation in the project, Library staff will focus more on achieving this outcome in future program planning. Staff will intentionally work to find new and effective ways through both the resources and programming activities the Library generates to ensure that students and their families find what they need, feel welcome, and want to return to use the Oceanside Public Library again and on an ongoing basis. It serves as a reminder that the Library staff must continue to think critically about what Oceanside families need and how the library can best fulfill those needs in a readily accessible or convenient way for families. If successful in these endeavors, it would be reflected in students and families using the Library resources on an ongoing basis, stating that they feel welcome, and that they to intend to return to the Library to take advantage of resources that will beneficial to them. Library staff plan to continue promoting Library Card use among OUSD families in the online and virtual format until in person gatherings are able to resume.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Library staff learned through this project the importance of direct and ongoing communication between and from both the Library staff and administrators at the School District and finding creative ways to communicate to families that all OUSD students have Library Cards and what is accessible and the benefit to them with their Library account. This lesson was learned through the miscommunication with the initial student Library Card proof and it was ongoing work year-round to inform families of this new service available to them and how to take advantage of all that the Library has to offer them and help their students in their academic and life pursuits. Another lesson learned from this project was adapting to changing needs, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, such as mailing student Library Cards since the schools and Library were shut down and putting more emphasis on and promoting the electronic and online resources the Library offers families instead of a focus on print materials or in-person programming.
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:
Yes
Explain:
The Library will continue its partnership with Oceanside Unified School District and assign Library cards to new students using their School Student ID Number and promote this service and other Library resources moving forward, such as attending School District sponsored online workshops for parents. Additionally, the library is currently in talks with other school districts with schools located within the City of Oceanside, such as Vista Unified School District, to expand the project and offer their students and families the same opportunity.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
The Library will not offer physical Library cards to students moving forward at this time unless funds are obtained to do so and there is an efficient and affordable way to distribute the cards after the COVID-19 Pandemic ends. Library staff will continue to find innovative and effective ways to better raise awareness of the Library cards available to OUSD students and the services the Library offers.
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 NarrativeSet Up To Succeed - Library Cards For All Students is an exemplary project in that it removes barriers of access to all OUSD students and Library staff were committed to informing families and educators of this valuable resource available to them. As part of this project, Library staff gained the approval of the Library Board of Trustees to remove all Library fines and overdue charges for ages 0-17 Library Card accounts. Moreover, Library staff and the School District are continuing the project into its second year, the school year 2020-2021, providing new students with library Card accounts. Moving forward, Library staff are investigating and reaching out to other school districts within the City of Oceanside, such as Vista Unified School District, to expand the project to their students that reside within the Oceanside borders and provide their students with Oceanside Public Library Card accounts as was done with Set Up To Succeed - Library Cards For All Students

Project Tags: Information Access, children, teens