View Project

G2S Project Code: 2020-NC-84634
State: North Carolina
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
East Carolina University

Project Director
Director Name: Roger Russell
Director Phone: 252-744-3215
Director Email: russellr@ecu.edu

General Information
Title: CARES Act: MEP Laptops Project
State Project Code: NC-20-134
Start Date: 08/15/2020
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: ECU’s Laupus Library worked with ECU’s Department of Health Education & Promotion, NC Department of Public Instruction, and NC Migrant Education Program (MEP) to identify last-mile technology gaps for high school students of migrant farmworker families in four Eastern NC counties. We used grant funding to purchase 100 laptops with bags and headphone/microphone combinations, and distributed them by working with MEP representatives in Greene, Lenoir, Wayne, and Pitt Counties. We used grant funds to purchase a customized offline library including COVID-19 and other health related information from WiderNet. Student Action with Farmworkers was hired for consultative services to provide expert feedback on the creation of the offline library. Laupus librarians created and delivered health information seeking skills instruction for MEP and NC teachers who work with migrant students in the four counties.

State Goal: Expanding Access

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$74,995.50

$0.00

$74,995.50

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Education
Systems & Technologies

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Health Literacy Training
Narrative:

One 2-hour train-the-trainer program, focusing on information and technology literacy and finding and using authoritative online resources for health information, was created and delivered by Laupus Librarians. This class was tailored specifically to MEP staff, English as a Second Language staff, and teachers within the four target counties, and was CE bearing (4 credits). The class was attended by 36 participants.

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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 120
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 36
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

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
70+ 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: MEP staff, English as a Second Language staff, and teachers

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 18
Agree: 9
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 11
Agree: 16
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 1
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 16
Agree: 12
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 17
Agree: 11
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 1
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 11
Agree: 14
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 4
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Spanish Health Videos and Content
Narrative: Laupus Librarians Jamie Bloss and Mary Roby sourced existing videos, and several handouts on finding reputable health information online, focusing particularly on COVID-19 information. The scripts of these videos and the handouts were then translated into Spanish, saved on flash drives as the "Pocket Library", and included with the laptops. The videos and other offline content were developed to help the students and their families navigate the internet to find reputable health information.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 4
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): 1
Number of plans/frameworks: 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
70+ 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: Yes: Farmworker Families in Eastern NC

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
100 laptops, backpacks, and headsets were distributed to high school aged students of migrant farmworker families. Student recipients and their families were also given flash drives containing an extensive offline library that included reputable information on COVID-19, as well as on other topics that would be helpful for high school students in the target school systems. COVID-19 interrupted the supply chain for Lenovo and delayed our laptop order by over a month which made it more difficult to reach some students since their families had begun to migrate to farm camps across eastern NC for work.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
This project was conceptualized and executed based on a previous successful project that purchased wireless internet hot spots for migrant farmworker families. The outputs from the current project added another layer of last mile technology and information access for these marginalized populations of migrant families by providing laptops and the offline library. The success of this project will be important for future projects that could scale up to address the digital divide among migrant farmworkers in NC statewide, or regionally in the Southeastern US.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Starting with a clearly defined problem and a well defined target audience was very important to developing clear solutions for the grant to fund. We had very good support locally at ECU from our faculty in the Department Health Education and Promotion who had established relationships with the network of partners on whom we could rely to help with identifying students in the most need of laptops, and how to get them distributed. Having multiple partners did present a challenge for keeping the project and project meetings focused. With regard to the laptop specifications and how/if they would be imaged or otherwise "set up" prior to distribution, one of the partners expressed extremely strong opinions on how this should be coordinated and threatened to pull the project off its timeline by as much as 6 to 8 months. A meeting with all partners prior to applying for the grant might have helped, but ultimately keeping partners and the project on track fell to the Project Manager. Use your partners as the experts to help plan for unexpected issues that might put you off your timeline. COVID-19 delayed our laptop production and we consulted with our partners to develop plans for dealing with that issue.
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:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
Yes
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 NarrativeThis grant worked with a community that is underserved in many aspects of day-to-day life, from education, healthcare to information literacy. In the pandemic this disparity grew. Laupus Health Library provided students, and their families access to reliable and accurate information while providing them with tools needed for education.

Project Tags: Digital Inclusion