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G2S Project Code: 2020-MA-85291
State: Massachusetts
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
Bishop Stang High School

Project Director
Director Name: Ann O'Leary
Director Phone: 508 789 8540
Director Email: aoleary@bishopstang.org
General Information
Title: Innovative: People, Places and Things Celebrating Diversity
State Project Code: 20.10.01
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: People, Places and Things is a two-year school library project that reflects a changing student population at Bishop Stang, a parochial high school in Southeastern Massachusetts that has a growing Latino and African American student body. Supported by new materials that reflect emerging diverse voices, the library created a series of programs including an Open Mic night featuring diverse music performed by students. The library offered an additional  Book Tasting event  of fiction reflecting new voices aimed at all English classes in the student body. This was the second year of the project.
State Goal: Lifelong Learning
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$6,000.00
$0.00
$4,900.00
$10,900.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' formal education.
After-school activities
Curriculum support
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Book Tasting Program
Narrative:

A Book Tasting program was held the week of September 20 through September 24, 2021 to introduce the 68 diverse books purchased with project funds during year two. Book Tasting was offered during the entire school day, 7 hours each day, in one of the library’s adjoining community rooms. The room was transformed into an intimate bistro with 14 tables decorated with table cloths and flower-filled bud vases, with each table showcasing about 6 new books. As each class entered, students were asked to consider the books as mirrors and windows to themselves and others. Students attended through scheduled class visits, with a total of 10 classes participating, equaling over 200 student visits. By the end of that week, students/faculty checked out 55 diverse books.



Intent: Improve users' formal education.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 420
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 200
Number of times program administered: 1


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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Bishop Stang High School
Address: 500 Slocum Rd
City: North Dartmouth
State: MA
Zip: 02747
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
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: 0
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: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
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:
After using project materials and participating in its programs, 87.5% of student respondents observed that their race/ethnicities are more reflected in the school library. The project exceeded its target or achievement level (80%) regarding this outcome (increased reflection) by 7.5%. After using project materials/participating in its programs, 100% of student respondents felt more empathy for other races/ethnicities. The project exceeded its target or achievement level (80%) regarding this outcome (increased empathy) by 20%.After using project materials/participating in its programs, 62.5% of student respondents felt that Bishop Stang High School Library engaged them in a variety of experiences that reflect the diversity of the student body and the multicultural nature of society.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The Stang Library created its first Library of Things as a result of this project. This will be officially launched at Day of the Dead celebrations through Spanish classes during the last week of October. Over 80 students, working in small groups, will create and present Day of the Dead altars that use newly acquired “things” checked out from the Library of Things, including felt/ceramic skulls and tissue paper garlands, all crafted by Mexican artists and purchased through Novica, an impact marketplace that empowers artisans and preserves traditions.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The Human Library Organization offers training materials and evaluation tools to support this dialogue. Social media (Facebook and Twitter) and LibGuides are invaluable tools for promoting library materials/programs, especially during remote/hybrid teaching and learning. The scope of the project will expand to include materials and programming that represent students who are not Catholic, including those of Jewish heritage. In response to the rise of anti-Semitism in Massachusetts schools and communities, the library is participating in a “Trunk of Tolerance” project offered through the Bristol Community College Holocaust Center, the Holocaust Memorial Committee and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford. From November 2021 through January 2022, the library will host a trunk of Holocaust teaching materials to foster understanding and tolerance. Part of the new Library of Things, the trunk includes nonfiction books, biographies from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, posters, 17 lessons created by Holocaust specialist teachers, and art supplies for student expression. The “Trunk of Tolerance” exhibit also supports the school’s fall drama production The Diary of Anne Frank.
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: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThe Bishop Stang Library made tremendous strides in increasing awareness about the need for more diverse materials and programs reflecting changes in the student body of the High School community. Two major events took place to advance this response: a Book Tasting of diverse books and an Open Mic program featuring diverse music, respondents In a post survey reported the following outcomes: o After participating in Book Tasting and Open Mic during year two, 76.7% of student respondents felt that Bishop Stang High School Library engaged them in a variety of experiences that reflect the diversity of the student body and the multicultural nature of society. In an pre survey completed for its 2019 NEASC self-study, 60.7% of student respondents had felt that the school engaged them in diverse/multicultural experiences. Thus this feedback for year two is worth noting and is up from 62.5% reported for year one. These outcomes show a slow steady increase in student engagement regarding diversity and multiculturalism, from 60.7% pre survey to 62.5% post survey year one to 76.7% post survey year two. In post surveys after the second Human Library event in year two of the project students and community members as reported the following outcomes: o 91.7% of student readers agreed that their perception of the community members (human books) changed after the reading. o 100% of student readers agreed that participating in the Human Library has inspired them to be more open towards things that they are unfamiliar with. o 100% of student readers agreed that they find the Human Library methodology useful to challenge and highlight prejudice, discrimination and stigma. o 100% of community members (human books) agreed that they think their work as a book in the Human Library is important and meaningful. o 100% of community members (human books) agreed that they find the Human Library methodology useful to challenge and highlight prejudice, discrimination and stigma. This project was strengthened by Including persons of color (Emike Okhipo as assistant project director and Lee Blake as project consultant) to guide the project which helped to ensure cultural/ethnic/racial competence in programming and book selection, especially needed during heightened racial tensions of spring/summer 2020. The creation of a Music (Open Mic) program to celebrate diversity proved to be a way to engage student families in this program. Individuals who served in the Human Library were recruited to share their stories of overcoming experienced bias; faculty and students were willing to listen in safe spaces for conversation. The Human Library Organization proved to be a viable vehicle to support this dialogue.
Project Tags: Diversity Education; Serving Teens and Tweens