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G2S Project Code: 2020-MI-86167
State: Michigan
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
Library of Michigan

Project Director
Director Name: Cathy Lancaster
Director Phone: 517-335-8129
Director Email: lancasterc5@michigan.gov

General Information
Title: Early Literacy Support for Libraries and Communities
State Project Code: RTRM/Braille StoryWalks/EL training
Start Date: 10/01/2020
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: The Library of Michigan's Ready to Read Michigan program is LM’s statewide early literacy support for public libraries. It is designed to support public library staff as they model early literacy skill development directly to families and caregivers with young children (ages birth to 5). The Ready to Read Michigan (RTRM) program supports public libraries as they engage in outreach to families and caregivers, as well as early childhood centers, schools, and day cares in their community.

RTRM offers trainings by early literacy consultants and storytellers, as well as providing resources, from a toolkit to storytime supports such as handouts for families. Support for Ready to Read Michigan comes from various funders, including support from IMLS as well as the Michigan Department of Education's Office of Great Start.

Typically LM also supports Braille Enhanced StoryWalks as part of this project but were unable to do this part of the program during 2021 due to COVID pandemic limitations with our partners and participating libraries.

State Goal: Goal 2: Current Services & Support

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$6,469.26

$0.00

$6,469.26

Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Early Literacy
Reading Program (Not Summer Reading)

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Ready to Read Michigan early literacy support materials
Narrative:

Ready to Read Michigan provides supports, as well as training, to public library staff for improved early literacy programming. RTRM offers professionally designed programming materials such as posters, Storytime stickers, parent tip sheets, and more. These supports help libraries to engage with parents and caregivers in early literacy practices and help with outreach efforts. A few key pieces of RTRM material are also translated into Arabic and into Spanish for better engagement in communities with high bilingual populations.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Combined physical & 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: 18
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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: 0-5 years
6-12 years
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
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: 396
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1

Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 6
Agree: 12
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 6
Agree: 12
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Ready to Read Michigan training webinars
Narrative: Ready to Read Michigan puts an emphasis on early literacy trainings to not only assist new library staff but to expand the ideas and knowledge of all who work with young children. Storyteller and Narrative Consultant Jenifer Strauss provided 3 webinar trainings for library staff on 2/23/2021, 3/23/2021, and 4/20/2021, as well as a presentation at our monthly youth services meeting on 11/4/2020 that focused on the specific practices of RTRM. These four presentations had a total of 510 library staff attendees

Webinar topics:

Best Storytime Practices: The Power of Pre-writing and Writing Activities with Kids

Best Storytime Practices: Helping Children Build a Bigger Vocabulary

Best Storytime Practices: Grab-And-Go, Tell-And-Do

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 128

Partner Information

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: 396
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:
The program included training that had 436 library staff registered and attended 3 webinars presented by Narrative Consultant, Jenifer Strauss, as well as a virtual meeting presentation with 74 participants. All public libraries also had access to the resources and printables provided by the Library of Michigan.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Due to the closures this year as well as last, LM has been unable to have substantive outcomes for program evaluation. In response to previous evaluations and more virtual programming in our public libraries, LM is shifting to fewer program materials and more training for youth librarians on early literacy skill encouragement.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Public library staff training on how to encourage early literacy skills in parents and children is the most important element of increasing quality programming in 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:
LM intends to return to the Braille enhanced Storywalks section of the program.
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: Early Literacy, Storytime, youth storytimes