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G2S Project Code: 2020-ID-84927
State: Idaho
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
Idaho Commission for Libraries

Project Director
Director Name: Jennifer Redford
Director Phone: (208) 334-2150
Director Email: jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov

General Information
Title: Teens
State Project Code: 320
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: For several years, the ICfL’s support of teen services in Idaho libraries has been inconsistent. During the reporting period, the ICfL staff have begun to build a foundation for continuous, high-quality support by adopting a strategy to help Idaho libraries serve the teens in their communities. The ICfL is committed to providing information, training, technical assistance, and resources for Idaho libraries and their community partners. The vision is for all teens to be independent readers, lifelong learners, and become community leaders.

One of the goals of this strategy is to foster communication between library staff who serve teens and develop ways to push out important information to them. This year, the ICfL established a Listserv exclusively for Idaho library teen services’ staff. More than 100 public and school library workers have signed up for the Listserv. While it is mostly used for ICfL staff to share information, the hope is that it will also be used between members in the future. The ICfL also established a series of informal virtual chats for teen services staff. These chats fall under a larger ICfL model called LITT – Libraries in Idaho Talking Trends. LITT chats offer library staff from around Idaho the chance to meet each other and share their experiences. Over the past year, Teen Services’ LITT chats were held quarterly, with an average attendance of 12 library staff at each chat. Relevant information is shared in the “Teens” section of the youth services’ newsletter “The Scoop,” and on the ICfL website.

Another area where the ICfL supports teen services is by providing professional development opportunities. The ICfL continues to be a partner on the Transforming Teen Services IMLS grant (referred to as T3) and use that curriculum as a framework for foundational knowledge for teen services. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, in-person T3 trainings have been difficult to provide. The ICfL did offer a two-hour session as part of this year’s Summer Summit for approximately 60 school librarians and found that the virtual model of offering access to course material followed by weekly virtual chats was unpopular with library staff. In order to provide access to T3 content and establish a platform for learning that will continue after the grant ends, ICfL staff created a tutorial in Niche Academy. Library staff can work through the T3 content at their own pace and use a workbook (also created by ICfL staff) to help facilitate their learning. The tutorial is extensive, and while more than 40 library staff have started it, only six have completed it. Moving forward, this tutorial will continue to offer support for basic teen services trainings.

Another way that the ICfL provides learning opportunities is to leverage partnerships with other organizations. Examples include paying for access to the YALSA members-only webinar series and continuing to work with the Idaho Out-of-School Network (ION) for both virtual and in-person training events. While the YALSA webinars have been popular in past years, this grant period there were difficulties gaining access to the webinars and archives from YALSA . Some Idaho library staff also complained about the quality of the webinar presenters. Moving forward, this will be the last year partnering on this activity. The ICfL staff work with ION includes sharing information about free virtual training opportunities for out-of-school time and promoting the ION Power Up Summit. An ICfL staff member also sits on the ION steering committee and the Summit planning committee. This ensures that libraries have a place at the table when decisions are made and resources are allocated for out-of-school time.

The final area that the ICfL has identified to support teen services is by offering technical assistance and resources. One goal is to create a toolkit each year that helps teen services’ library staff do their work more effectively. During the grant period, the agency contracted with a subject matter expert to create a “Discord Toolkit” to help library staff at public and school libraries set up and use a Discord server for teen engagement. Another program that will launch immediately following the reporting period is the first Idaho Teen Reading Challenge. Some of the materials for the challenge were purchased during the reporting period and details are included in the accompanying activity report. The goal for the Teen Reading Challenge is to give Idaho library staff an easy-to-use tool to engage with teens and help them discover new books and explore new genres.

The ICfL’s teen services strategy has been influenced and developed using the advice from the newly created Statewide Teens Advisory Board (STAB). The STAB was formed in the spring of 2021 and consists of seven public and school library staff from around the state. The members of the board help develop goals for the upcoming year and help with the details of the activities for the Teen Services Project. For example, this year the STAB helped select the genres for the Idaho Teen Reading Challenge and helped develop the program’s logistical details.

The ICfL staff is confident that this strategy will result in more consistent support for teen services in Idaho’s libraries. Over the next few years, the agency will continue to offer modes of communicating and connecting, foster access to high-quality professional development opportunities, and develop tools and programs for libraries to use to serve teens in their communities.

State Goal: Idaho State Goal 1: Build institutional capacity

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$3,950.80

$0.00

$3,950.80

Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
After-school activities
Continuing Education and Staff Development

Activities

Activity Details
Title: Discord Toolkit
Narrative:

The ICfL contracted with a teen services librarian at an Idaho library to create the “Getting Started with Discord Toolkit.” The toolkit provides step-by-step instructions for libraries that want to set up a Discord server to engage with teens. It also offers advice on setting permissions for participation, running the server, and different types of library programs and services that use Discord.

This type of tool is useful for both public and school libraries. It offers practical advice and is an easy-to-follow guide. It was well-received when it was launched earlier this year and has been shared with youth services consultants at other state library agencies.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
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

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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

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

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

Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Idaho Teen Reading Challenge
Narrative:

The Idaho Teen Reading Challenge is a statewide reading program for teens ages 12 – 19. During the months of October – April, teens are challenged to read eight different books in eight different categories: graphic novel, a book recommended by a friend, an #0wnVoices book, a free choice, a book that keeps you up a night, a classic, a memoir or biography, and a re-read. Libraries that register to be part of the challenge receive a tracking sheet for the teens, a special holepunch for the library, and a bookmark that is also a punch-card. Participating libraries were sent magnets with different emoji emotions for teens to identify how different books make them feel, supporting the teens’ social-emotional awareness. After a teen completes the challenge, they scan a QR code that takes them to a form to fill out. They share their contact information and the titles of the books they read, and this information is shared with their library.

The goal of the challenge is to provide an easy-to-implement and flexible program that libraries can use to engage teens and encourage them to try new books and discover new genres. Since this is the first year of the challenge, the hope is to learn a lot about how it is implemented and to make changes for next year. It is important to note that funds were spent during the reporting period to print materials and purchase supplies, but that the actual program did not launch until October 1, 2021.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Procurement
Mode:
Format:

Quantity
Number of equipment acquired: 0
Number of acquired equipment used: 0
Number of hardware items acquired: 0
Number of acquired hardware items used: 0
Number of software items acquired: 0
Number of acquired software items used: 0
Number of materials/supplies acquired: 30,150
Number of acquired materials/supplies used: 0

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: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 38
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: YALSA Webinars
Narrative: The ICfL signed an agreement with YALSA to provide access to high-quality webinars that are normally reserved for YALSA members. While initially both ICfL staff and Idaho library staff were pleased with the selection and access, recent structural changes within YALSA have impacted both quality and access. During the reporting period, the ICfL was unable to provide access to the webinars for four months due to an oversight from YALSA. After access was regained to the webinars, it was discovered that access to the archives, which had been included previously, had been cut off. It has also become increasingly difficult to get accurate statistics on how many Idaho library staff have attended each webinar. Additionally, at least one Idaho library worker had serious questions about the quality of one of the presenters. While this activity initially helped the ICfL broaden its professional development portfolio, recent experiences show that it is no longer an effective use of funds. For this reason, the agreement will not be renewed for the next reporting period.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
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: 1
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0

Partner Information

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

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Library staff prefer programs that are flexible and easily implemented in a variety of settings. Library staff have become selective about the types of virtual trainings that they engage with, and the ICfL needs to remain responsive to what they need and how they need it delivered. More than anything, the overwhelming positive response to anything that the ICfL offers for teen services indicates that there is a need for more support in this area.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The ICfL will transition away from providing access to YALSA webinars and find more relevant partners for virtual professional development. The agency will continue to foster a partnership with the Idaho Out-of-School Network. The STAB group will assist in helping the ICfL create programs for both school and public libraries to help them engage with teens.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Support for teen services needs to be consistent, relevant, and responsive to the changing needs of library staff.
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 ICfL anticipates an increase in staff time to support this project and an increase in the cost of providing teen services’ support.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
The ICfL will discontinue support for YALSA webinars due to lack of interest from library staff and changes in levels of support from YALSA. The Idaho Teen Reading Challenge will be continued, and the agency will make adjustments based on experiences from this year. The ICfL staff will continue to contract with subject matter experts to create a toolkit each year.
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: teens, facilitated learning, teen services