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G2S Project Code:
2020-CO-85166
State:
Colorado
Fiscal Year:
2020
Grantee
Colorado State Library
Project Director
Director Name:
Lori Special
Director Phone:
303-866-6730
Director Email:
special_l@cde.state.co.us
General Information
Title:
Growing Readers Together
State Project Code:
981B; 981C; 160D
Start Date:
10/01/2020
End Date:
09/30/2021
Abstract:
Growing Readers Together, funded primarily by the Buell Foundation and a federally funded Preschool Development Grant (Department of Human Services), aims to increase early literacy experiences for young children cared for by non-licensed caregivers other than their parents. Through grants to public libraries, training for library staff, take home materials for caregivers, work towards a comprehensive early literacy website, and partnerships at the state and local level, Colorado library staff are reaching family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers with early literacy materials, information, and programs. Libraries also received funding to create early literacy spaces, expand collections, and provide outreach and programs. Regional Early Literacy Librarians support local libraries, and a statewide partner collaborative explores ways to support FFN care. LSTA funding provided .20 FTE program support for the program director, creation of a video demonstrating home early literacy practices, Spanish translation services for the video, and on-air Interstitials on Rocky Mountain PBS Kids programming.
State Goal:
Learning for all ages
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$
51,237.81
$
14,190.02
$
178,293.70
$
243,721.53
Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to apply information that furthers their parenting and family skills.
Parenting & Family skills
Early Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title:
Professional Development for Library Staff
Narrative:
The Growing Readers Together (GRT) team conducted 6 virtual Play, Learn, and Grow sessions with 32 family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers and children. GRT State Library staff worked with partners to offer webinars for public libraries focused on topics and tools of interest to those seeking to serve the FFN community. Through these webinars, over 12 hours of professional development was provided to 195 library staff in Colorado. Additionally, the 3 GRT early literacy specialists offered “Quick Bites,” a series of 7 short webinars on topics of interest to early literacy librarians. Collectively, the “Quick Bite” sessions were attended by 113 participants and viewed an additional 449 times. GRT staff also presented a webinar on CSL's early literacy framework and a session at the Fall Youth Services Workshops.
Intent:
Improve users' ability to apply information that furthers their parenting and family skills.
Activity:
Instruction
Mode:
Program
Format:
Virtual
Quantity
Session length (minutes):
45
Number of sessions in program:
27
Average number in attendance per session:
18
Number of times program administered:
1
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:
Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population:
General
Locale
Is the activity state-wide:
Yes
Specific Locations:
No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 45
Academic Libraries: 0
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: 21
Agree: 20
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 18
Agree: 20
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 3
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 24
Agree: 16
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 30
Agree: 9
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 4
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 1
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title:
Early Literacy Calendars
Narrative:
Growing Readers Together provided 2,520 Early Literacy Calendars to caregivers through public libraries.
Intent:
Improve users' ability to apply information that furthers their parenting and family skills.
Activity:
Content
Mode:
Acquisition
Format:
Physical
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:
2,520
Number of electronic materials acquired:
0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired:
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:
Yes
Specific Locations:
No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 113
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
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:
Video Creation
Narrative:
Growing Readers Together staff created a 20-minute early learning video that demonstrates simple experiences that caregivers can replicate at home using easy to find materials to boost learning development in young children.
Intent:
Improve users' ability to apply information that furthers their parenting and family skills.
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:
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:
Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group:
Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups:
All Ages
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:
Yes
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:
Yes
Specific Locations:
No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 113
Academic Libraries: 0
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:
Children have access to early literacy materials due to libraries distributing 930 early literacy kits to family, friend, and neighbor caregivers either through their solo efforts and/or through combined work with community partners. Caregivers became more informed of early literacy practices. Public library staff provided 322 consultations with caregivers about early literacy and disseminated 2,300 promotional materials (defined as “brochures, flyers, or posters created to promote specific activities or events”) and 2,943 early literacy materials (defined as “Growing Readers Together Tip Sheets, newsletters, early literacy calendars, or hand-outs on the 5 early literacy practices, etc.”). Growing Readers Together staff also created a 20-minute early learning video that demonstrates simple experiences that caregivers can replicate at home using easy to find materials to boost learning development in young children.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Informal caregivers do not always recognize their role in teaching and engaging children in learning. Through training sessions, such as the Play, Learn, and Grow workshops, they learn more about child development and get tips for easy ways to support the young learners in their care. In addition, informal conversations with librarians help caregivers to feel supported and realize their crucial role in raising learners. Caregivers are eager for this knowledge and are excited by the materials they receive to take home and have for children’s daily use. Few resources are available for these informal caregivers and yet over 50% of Colorado children are in informal care, and those numbers are increasing with the pandemic.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Many informal childcare providers do not identify themselves as such, believing they are just grandparents looking after their grandchildren, or babysitting for a neighbor, for instance. Some also may be reluctant to identify as informal childcare providers because they believe they may be providing the service illegally as they are not licensed to provide care. Trying to provide services to this community that often doesn’t self-identify as informal childcare providers is a challenge.
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:
No
Explain:
Because of the popularity of the calendars (8,000+ distributed in four months), we have completed a second print run including a Spanish language translation. We have also shifted staffing so the library staff are mentors in early literacy strategies after two years of a dedicated early literacy specialist.
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
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:
Administrative Records
Review Surveys
Interviews
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Statistical Methods
Qualitative Methods
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
Targeted Sample – We selected based on a desired characteristic, e.g. age.
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
No comparison for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary:
Yes
Exemplary Narrative
Yes; Growing Readers Together is a model for other State Library Agencies. Based on the five years of work with public libraries on reaching family, friend, and neighbor caregivers with early literacy strategies, we are developing a toolkit and other resources that could be implemented in any library and disseminated through State Library Agencies.
Project Tags:
early literacy, caregivers
