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G2S Project Code: 2020-UT-84792
State: Utah
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
TREMONTON CITY LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Kim Griffiths
Director Phone: 435-257-9525
Director Email: kgriffiths@tremontoncity.com
General Information
Title: Online Oral History Project
State Project Code: 211865
Start Date: 01/01/2021
End Date: 08/31/2021
Abstract: We reached out into the community and recorded individuals who had stories that are unique to Tremonton City and the Bear River Valley area. Most stories were between 3-5 minute audio files. We also gathered photographs to add to each oral story.  We gathered photographs from the storyteller, museum, historical society, senior center and other community entities. We set up a website so people can access and listen to these mini biographies. This will be something that will continue to grow as people see how wonderful it is to hear people tell stories of their time in Tremonton, Utah area. Tremonton Library is the perfect organization to address this need. Libraries are all about the stories. It is so important for our community to accumulate and record these stories before they are lost forever.

State Goal: Civic Engagement
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$7,133.50
$0.00
$0.00
$7,133.50
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Community Concerns
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Storyteller interviews and digitizing
Narrative: We have 28 stories from 14 different storytellers.  Many of our storytellers submitted multiple stories.  We also have 2 more storytellers with stories that have not been published but are in the works.  We meet with each person and help them through telling their stories, usually by rehearsing and sometimes writing them down so they can collect their thoughts.  It usually takes us about an hour to complete the interview if they are telling multiple stories.  Many times they will have other family members with them to help jog the memories and to give support.  It makes for a fun session.

We set up all our oral histories on the Memria platform.  This allows us to record the histories and share them to our website for viewing and listening by the community. We now have 28 published stories and 5 unpublished.  We are making more appointments for stories everyday.  We also add pictures to go with each oral history.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 28
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 28
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 2
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 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: Bear River Valley Museum
Address: 11 East Mains Street
City: Tremonton
State: UT
Zip: 84337
Name: Bear River Valley Senior Center
Address: 510 W 1000 N
City: Tremonton
State: UT
Zip: 84337
Name: GARLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 86 WEST FACTORY ROAD
City: GARLAND
State: UT
Zip: 84312
Name: TREMONTON CITY LIBRARY
Address: 210 NORTH TREMONT STREET
City: TREMONTON
State: UT
Zip: 84337
Activity Details
Title: OurBRVStories Committee Meetings
Narrative:

Four meetings discussing this project were completed with the partners. Summaries of the meetings are below.

Feb 19, 2021

Invitation Cards – Wording on Interest cards to let people know about the project and how to contact us

Places to advertise ie, Water Bills, Museum, News Paper, Facebook

Ideas of who to contact: Some names were given on people to contact that might be interested in telling stories

March 13, 2021

The Civic League will be at the grocery stores for the next week and they will be handing out information on Ourbrvstories in addition to the quilt raffle.  We also finalized information on Interest Cards and got them distributed to committee members.

March, 20, 2021

We discussed how the grocery store information went and also talked about getting the kiosk set up in the museum . Several attendees were going to reach out to different organizations and invite them to share ourbrvstories on their site as well. 

April 10, 2021

We discussed places that possibly we could be able to reach out and let people know about the project. We discussed that during COVID that it was difficult to really be able to spread the word. We decided that we would continue to advertise at the Museum on Facebook and on other websites associated with Tremonton, Garland and Bear River City. We sent out personal invitations to individuals as well.


Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Planning & Evaluation
Mode: Prospective
Format: In-house


Quantity
Number of evaluations and/or plans funded: 0
Number of funded evaluation and/or plans completed: 4


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: Bear River Valley Museum
Address: 11 East Mains Street
City: Tremonton
State: UT
Zip: 84337
Name: Bear River Valley Senior Center
Address: 510 W 1000 N
City: Tremonton
State: UT
Zip: 84337
Name: GARLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 86 WEST FACTORY ROAD
City: GARLAND
State: UT
Zip: 84312
Name: TREMONTON CITY LIBRARY
Address: 210 NORTH TREMONT STREET
City: TREMONTON
State: UT
Zip: 84337
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
This has been a very fun project to work on. The Storytellers and the interviewers have enjoyed spending time together and learning about the history shared. Many times we have found connections to people outside our area. This project will bring people together and provide a place for people to just learn about the history of our area. I feel that we are preserving family history and providing much needed genealogy for our area.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
It is so important to preserve these memories. It is funny how people are a little skeptical at first. We tell them what the project is and where they will be able to go to listen to them and they get excited. I have had so many people tell me how important this project is. They say everyone needs to participate in this. I hope every community starts a program like this in their area.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The biggest thing I have learned is that you need to prepare plenty of time with the storytellers. Many of the elderly, once they get started, remember so many other things they want to tell. Sometimes their thoughts are scattered. It takes time to get them focused and really tell each story they want to portray. Also, because we use photos with the audio stories, it is important to have the storyteller bring those with them. Otherwise you will have to find the photos to add later.
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:
I hope to entice many volunteers to help with this project. They would be interviewing and helping to collect the stories. I assume this effort will lead to many more published stories.
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:
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: Oral Histories, Storytelling, Audio Stories