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G2S Project Code: 2020-AZ-85056
State: Arizona
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
YAVAPAI COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT

Project Director
Director Name: Corey Christians
Director Phone: 928-771-3191
Director Email: corey.christians@yavapaiaz.gov
General Information
Title: SALSA (School Administration and Library Staff Advancement)
State Project Code: 2020-0010-07
Start Date: 05/08/2020
End Date: 09/03/2021
Abstract: The goals of the project included: 1) improving the knowledge of paraprofessionals working in school libraries; 2) helping to meet the informational needs of the students, faculty, and staff in schools; 3) providing a proven model of a school and public library partnership; and 4) providing another resource for administrators seeking to learn how school libraries can better serve their needs. Funds were used to hire a County School Librarian. Community members benefited because school paraprofessional staff have greater knowledge regarding library operations. As a result, they are better equipped to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
State Goal: Information Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$58,204.00
$0.00
$17,620.43
$75,824.43
Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Collection Development & Management
Continuing Education and Staff Development
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Training School Library Staff
Narrative: The County School Librarian provided professional development to school library staff on the Sora ebook platform and the shared integrated library system. She also taught students about the information process, research process, different types of information and how to recognize reliable information.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

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


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 190
Number of sessions in program: 3
Average number in attendance per session: 17
Number of times program administered: 34


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: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 23
Other: 0
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 71
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: 0
Agree: 71
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: 0
Agree: 71
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 71
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title: Creating Resources for Library Staff
Narrative: The County School Librarian created:
  • 11 LibGuides
  • weeding standards and procedures
  • Sora training materials,
  • in-person and virtual presentations.
By the end of the grant cycle, there were 1,425 page views of the LibGuides.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Combined physical & 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): 13
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: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 23
Other: 0
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 4
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 4
Agree: 2
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The LSTA-funded County School Librarian visited 26 schools; conducted eighteen 60-minute digital literacy classes directly to students, developed and executed an all-day conference for school library staff, completed 16 in-depth analyses of school collections, discussed the importance of school libraries with approximately 20 school administrators, worked with seven libraries training new staff. LSTA funding made it possible to prove to County administration that this program could be successful. As a result, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors preliminarily approved keeping the “Librarian – County Schools” position going forward.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Managing and establishing relationships is core to the success of partnering with school libraries to improve services. Constant communication is also essential to maintain buy-in and increase awareness of the importance of school libraries, help new staff understand the importance of their library, and build interlibrary communications between school and public libraries. All of these findings will help develop future programs expanding on the existing partnership.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Nearly all school library staff appreciated the training, and more administrators were made aware of the importance of their school libraries.
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:
Yes
Explain:
The change in scope of the project includes capitalizing on existing efforts to build collections, and reaching out to new public library partners to expand their relationships with their local schools.
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: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThis project demonstrates the importance of school libraries to students as well as to their communities. The high number of LibGuide views indicates that school library staff are hungry for continuing education and professional connections. The County School Librarian position, piloted with LSTA funds, has been permanently established by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.
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