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G2S Project Code: 2020-RI-86358
State: Rhode Island
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
Rhode Island Center for the Book

Project Director
Director Name: Kate Lentz
Director Phone: 401-347-0664
Director Email: kate@ribook.org

General Information
Title: Rhode Island Center for the Book
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: The RI Center for the Book (RICFB) is a statewide organization devoted to promoting personal and community enrichment by sharing books and creating conversations statewide around the book. The Center’s community read projects, Reading Across Rhode Island and Kids Reading Across Rhode Island, include a diverse range of programs and public access to featured books. The books are selected annually by teachers, librarians, writers and readers who also plan related relevant programming. RICFB also works closely with OLIS to promote the RI Children’s Book Awards.
State Goal: Learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$42,180.00

$0.00

$32,820.00

$75,000.00

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Reading Program (Not Summer Reading)
Reading Program (Summer Reading)

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Reading Across Rhode Island
Narrative:

Reading Across Rhode Island (RARI) is a statewide community read program for adults and young adults coordinated by the Rhode Island Center for the Book (RICFB). Rhode Islanders were invited to join in the reading of Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. This year, RARI also promoted three companion reads that explored similar themes through fiction: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi and Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. The program ran from January to June with readers joining intergenerational discussions and participating in local events such as lectures and dramatic interpretations. Statewide events in the 2021 RARI program included a virtual kick-off, a “Stamped in Rhode Island” live webinar series for educators in partnership with RI PBS, a poetry reading inspired by themes from Stamped, and live virtual author events with Tochi Onyebuchi, Brit Bennett and Jason Reynolds.

To support this program, RICFB distributed 2,800 free copies of Stamped to 84 schools and libraries, including underserved communities in Providence, West Warwick, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket and Newport. RICFB also provided books to the RI Adult Correctional Institution, Wyatt Detention Center and the juvenile Training School. Students from the Training School were able to watch and participate in the live author event with Jason Reynolds. RICFB also provides physical and digital version of a RARI Resource Guide for book discussion leaders, and a RARI curriculum guide aligned to Common Core standards for RI teachers.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Combined in-person & virtual
Other: Community read program

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 14
Average number in attendance per session: 500

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: 13-17 years
18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
70+ 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: 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: 48
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 1
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 80
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Kids Reading Across Rhode Island
Narrative:

Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI) is a statewide community read program coordinated by the Rhode Island Center for the Book and the Office of Library and Information Services for children in grades four through six. KRARI featured the book Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander.

1,250 copies of Becoming Muhammad Ali were distributed at no cost to public libraries and schools to facilitate library-based book discussions and children’s access to the book. In addition, an online resource (LibGuide) was created that included a Curriculum Guide connecting the book to Common Core Standards for teachers and school librarians, records of statewide events, and additional reading lists and activities. For statewide KRARI programming see Reading Programs report.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 30
Average number in attendance per session: 7
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

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: 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: 30
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: 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

Activity Details
Title: RI Children's Book Awards Book Sets
Narrative: Elementary school librarians throughout the state were able to apply for RI Children's Book Award (RICBA) book sets in Spring 2021. Libraries that demonstrated high need were prioritized, including school libraries in the state-designated “distressed” communities of Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Central Falls, and West Warwick. RI Center for the Book purchased, collated, and distributed a total of 76 book sets with 20 books each in August/September 2021. Bookmarks and posters were created and distributed to libraries across the state to promote the program.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and 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: 1,520
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0

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: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 76
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

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Resource guides enabled teachers and school librarians to incorporate the RARI and KARI books into classroom activities and advanced the program goals. Many schools and libraries don’t have budgets that allow them to purchase multiple copies of the books for statewide reading events and therefore would not be able to participate in the Reading Across Rhode Island, Kids Reading Across Rhode Island or the RI Children’s Book Award program without the books provided through this project. Pivoting from in-person to virtual events that accommodate more attendees and can be recorded for future viewing creates access for a broader audience to participate in RARI and KRARI events. For example, students from the RI Training School, the youth correctional facility for the state, were able to participate in the live RARI author event for the first time ever.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Access to books, programming and authors is critical to the Reading Across Rhode Island and Kids Reading Across Rhode Island programs and increased support expands access to engaging programming that instills a love of reading and learning and encourages discussions of current events and social issues.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Support from librarians and teachers is critical to any programs that hope to involve students. The partnership between the RI Center for the Book and the state library agency is essential to the administration of these programs.
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:
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: