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G2S Project Code: 2020-AK-85273
State: Alaska
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
Alaska State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Claire Imamura
Director Phone: 907-465-1018
Director Email: claire.imamura@alaska.gov
General Information
Title: Continuing Education Grants
State Project Code: 6 codes assigned based on recipient library
Start Date: 07/01/2020
End Date: 06/30/2021
Abstract: Alaska is one of few states without an accredited graduate library school. Librarians in Alaska work in isolation with limited access to library management training. These librarians need to be exposed to new ideas and emerging trends in providing library service to patrons of all types. Alaskan library patrons are extremely diverse, with many Alaska Native patrons in the rural communities and many ESL patrons in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Patrons want libraries to provide the full range of traditional library services and have come to rely on libraries for a broad range of sophisticated technology and information access resources. In order to meet this ongoing and critical need for public library staff training, the Alaska State Library allocates one $1,250 reimbursement to each eligible library outlet annually. This year, because many in-person conferences and training opportunities were cancelled or postponed, we offered up to four $300 reimbursements per eligible library outlet for staff to attend virtual conferences or online workshops. This report describes the fifteenth year of this targeted grant program.
State Goal: Goal 1. Lifelong Learning
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$1,366.50
$198.63
$0.00
$1,565.13
Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Library Skills
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Continuing Education grant management
Narrative:

State Library staff updated the CE grant forms on the Library Development web page (https://lam.alaska.gov/library-grants/ce). The applications asked for the estimated cost of registration or attendance at the workshop or virtual conference. Each applicant must write a short narrative explaining why this event is important for them.

When conferences were announced, State Library staff posted notices to the Alaska Library Association (AkLA) mailing list regarding the CE grants and encouraged library staff to apply. 

Staff received, reviewed, and approved CE applications. 

After the grantee's CE event, staff then solicited CE grant reimbursement packets, final reports, and OBEs from the grantee. These reports and documents were reviewed, approved/questioned, and then the allowable funds were awarded.



Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Virtual
Other: Virtual conference attendance or online class


Quantity


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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: COOPER LANDING COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Address: MILE .8 BEAN CREEK ROAD
City: COOPER LANDING
State: AK
Zip: 99572
Name: GUSTAVUS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 14 GUSTAVUS ROAD
City: GUSTAVUS
State: AK
Zip: 99826
Name: KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Address: 163 MAIN STREET LOOP
City: KENAI
State: AK
Zip: 99611
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
On a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), participants reported that they 5.0 strongly agree that the instruction they received improved their knowledge, 4.6 agree/strongly agree that the instruction they received increased their confidence about what they have learned, 4.7 agree/strongly agree that they are likely to be able to apply the instruction they received in their libraries, and 5.0 strongly agree that the instruction they received will lead to improved services for the public in their libraries. Overall participants strongly agreed that the instruction they received through this grant program was beneficial to themselves as library staff and to their patrons. Conferences/classes attended: Alaska Library Association Virtual Conference 2021, Basic Public Library Administration class, Design and Marketing for Libraries class, Infopeople Basic Cataloging and Classification class, Managing Children's Collections from Acquisition to Weeding ecourse, Library Juice Academy Reader's Advisory 101. Although this opportunity is open to both public and school librarians, no school librarians applied this year.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The continuing education grants demonstrate positive impact on the library workforce since on all four OBE measures, 4.8 out of 5.0 on the Likert scale strongly agree that the training they attended improved their knowledge, that they are confident in using what they have learned, that they would be able to apply what they learned, and that what they learned would improve library services in their library. Without a dedicated school library consultant, we will need to find innovative ways to promote this program to school librarians in the future.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Although libraries appreciated the flexibility that allowed them to attend virtual trainings instead of in-person conferences, the take-up rate for virtual continuing education was low. Only six library staffers applied and four of them were from the same library system. Several factors may have contributed to this. Library staff may have been too busy dealing with COVID to think about continuing education. There may be less interest in virtual trainings or library staff may have felt that there were enough free virtual trainings that they didn't need to apply for the grant. Because the grants position at the Alaska State Library was vacant for much of the year, the Continuing Education program was unevenly publicized and library staff may not have realized that the opportunity existed.
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:

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: training, public libraries, school libraries