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G2S Project Code: 2020-WV-86389
State: West Virginia
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
West Virginia Library Commission

Project Director
Director Name: Karen Goff
Director Phone: (304) 558-2041
Director Email: Karen.e.goff@wv.gov

General Information
Title: Library Capacity and Core Compentencies
State Project Code: compentencies
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: Library Commission staff delivered consulting services for West Virginia library staff and boards that highlight best practices in library governance, management, service delivery, and pandemic response. In addition, the Library Commission develops and implement training for library staff, library administrators, and trustees. The agency provided access to library related continuing educational opportunities provided through Niche Academy, WebJuction, and LYRASIS.

State Goal: Goal 2 - Facilitate Collaboration, Leadership, and Innovation in the Library Community

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$77,281.40

$54,535.00

$0.00

$131,816.40

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity

Activities

Activity Details
Title: Public Library Certification Program
Narrative:

Library and Development Services staff made much more use of the Niche Academy training platform. The voluntary public library certification program coursework was moved to the platform. Forty-four individuals enrolled in the course. Seven individuals completed coursework this fiscal year to earn their certificate.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 13
Average number in attendance per session: 7

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

Public Libraries: 171
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: New Director Academy
Narrative:

The New Director Academy assists new public library directors in the state who do not have a Masters in Library Science (MLS) or degreed librarians who have moved into a director position. The program went to monthly virtual sessions due to the COVID pandemic. Each two-hour session focused on a specific topic: West Virginia state requirements for public libraries, budgeting, working with the Board, policies and procedures, personnel management, services and programs, WVInfoDepot.org, and collection management. Sessions were recorded and posted on the New Director Academy Niche Academy page for library directors who could not attend.

Attendance to the sessions was high because library directors could remain on-site; no travel was needed. On average, eight individuals attended a session.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 8
Number of times program administered: 10

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

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: CHARLES W. GIBSON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 105 EAST MAIN STREET
City: BUCKHANNON
State: WV
Zip: 26201
Name: COWEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 47 MILL STREET
City: COWEN
State: WV
Zip: 26206
Name: CRAIGSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 63 LIBRARY LANE
City: CRAIGSVILLE
State: WV
Zip: 26205
Name: DODDRIDGE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 117 COURT STREET
City: WEST UNION
State: WV
Zip: 26456
Name: DORA B. WOODYARD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: MULBERRY ST.
City: ELIZABETH
State: WV
Zip: 26143
Name: ELKINS-RANDOLPH PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 416 DAVIS AVE
City: ELKINS
State: WV
Zip: 26241
Name: GASSAWAY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 536 ELK STREET
City: GASSAWAY
State: WV
Zip: 26624
Name: HAMPSHIRE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 153 WEST MAIN STREET
City: ROMNEY
State: WV
Zip: 26757
Name: JACKSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 208 N. CHURCH ST.
City: RIPLEY
State: WV
Zip: 25271
Name: KEYSER-MINERAL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 105 N. MAIN STREET
City: KEYSER
State: WV
Zip: 26726
Name: LYNN MURRAY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 601 RAILROAD STREET
City: CHESTER
State: WV
Zip: 26034
Name: MARION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 321 MONROE ST.
City: FAIRMONT
State: WV
Zip: 26554
Name: MCDOWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 90 HOWARD ST.
City: WELCH
State: WV
Zip: 24801
Name: NEW MARTINSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 160 WASHINGTON STREET
City: NEW MARTINSVILLE
State: WV
Zip: 26155
Name: PIONEER MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: RT.33
City: HARMAN
State: WV
Zip: 26270
Name: SUMMERSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 6201 WEBSTER ROAD
City: SUMMERSVILLE
State: WV
Zip: 26651
Name: TERRA ALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 701B EAST STATE AVENUE
City: TERRA ALTA
State: WV
Zip: 26764
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: Applying what I learned 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: Consulting and Visits
Narrative:

The Library and Development Services staff provided consulting services by phone, email, or virtual meeting space. Concerns relating to library services during the COVID pandemic were the most discussed topic, especially personnel and re-opening policies. Unfortunately, staff did not conduct site visits due to a state government travel ban Instead, staff attended by-weekly meetings with public library directors to answer concerns and provide information.

Library and Development Services staff continued to update the COVID-19 Support for Libraries and Librarians LibGuide (https://wvlcguides.org/covid19support) with information relating to reopening libraries and personnel issues; staff vaccinations were of particular interest amongst library directors.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 1,480
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 123

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 171
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Monthly Topic Sessions
Narrative: The public library directors met monthly to discuss various topics relating to libraries and the COVID pandemic. Unfortunately, the sessions were not long enough to cover all of the issues of interest to the directors. Therefore, the Library and Development Services team held additional virtual monthly presentations and meetings. Topics of interest to the public library directors included starting a mobile hotpot lending program, the Save the Children meal outreach serve, and changes to the WVInfoDepot.org website.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 27
Number of times program administered: 3

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 171
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
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: Applying what I learned 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: Statewide Resource Training
Narrative:

Despite the COVID pandemic, the Library Commission could get WVInfoDepot.org news and train library staff in various ways.

Travel restrictions and social distancing did not stop the Library Commission staff from delivering presentations and live training to library staff. In October 2020, the Digital Access Librarian presented “What’s new with WVinfoDepot.org” at the West Virginia Library Association Annual Fall Conference. Additionally, the Librarian gave three complete introductions to the resource virtually over Zoom. Two were conducted as part of the Service Center Training Days for the Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library and Upshur County Public Library. The third was conducted for state public library directors as part of the West Virginia Library Commission Monthly Meeting Series.

The team conducted several promotional email campaigns aimed at the entire statewide library community:

· 1 - Back to school with WVInfodepot.org: This series of emails stretched over three months. An email went out weekly featuring a different WVinfodepot.org helpful resource to students. Graphics were designed both to illustrate these messages as well as instruct.

· 2 - October Health Literacy Month: An infographic was designed to highlight statewide health and wellness resources.

· 3 - Legal Information: An email was sent out introducing the new legal information LibGuide, https://wvlcguides.org/legalinformation/home.The LibGuide is also linked from the wvinfordepot.org website to assist West Virginians, and library staff find credible legal information, legal forms,legal aid, and legal professionals new them.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 36
Number of times program administered: 5

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 171
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Consortia Education Support
Narrative:

The Library Operations Consultant is the agency proxy for the Executive Secretary for all Eastern Library Network and West Virginia Library Network Executive Board Meetings. Both groups held their annual membership meetings virtually this year.

Due to building capacity limits from the COVID pandemic, circulation and cataloging educational sessions were moved to the Niche Academy platform. Policies, procedures, and educational session handouts were downloaded onto flash drives and distributed to every library in the West Virginia Library Network.

The Eastern Library Network decided they want to move its training to a similar method. The Library Operations Consultant will complete this in 2021.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 20
Average number in attendance per session: 11
Number of times program administered: 600

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 78
Academic Libraries: 5
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 1
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:

Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

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: Yes
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: