Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Demand by our clients for State Library services continues to increase amidst our budget cuts. The public libraries do not have any other reliable, cost-free source for advice and support. The recent high turnover in library directors and board members (due mostly to retirements), often without someone waiting in the wings to step up to these positions, has continued. This loss of institutional memory and experience always creates a small gap or disconnect at the local level and the State Library is often asked to step in to help. For many of the new directors, this is their first library director position and they rely heavily upon our expertise. On top of the pandemic challenges, libraries also had to manage preparation and response for a number of weather events that impacted Louisiana, including Hurricanes Laura and Delta and additional severe winter weather.
State Library staff answered more than 10,000 inquiries from public library directors, trustees, and staff about E-rate, technology, personnel issues, library laws, policies, procedures, job searches, long range planning, marketing & promotion, children’s services, buildings and architecture, budget, etc. These inquiries tend to be multi-part requests for help that require the attention of professional State Library staff in multiple departments working together and take research, time, and expertise to fully respond and answer. The frequency of these have steadily increased during the pandemic due to the unprecedented situation and complex issues stemming from uncertainty with funding, policies, laws, etc.
The State Library of Louisiana, as one of the course providers for the ALA-APA Library Support Staff Certification Program, offered courses in the following competencies: Supervision and Management, Communication and Teamwork, Reference and Information Services, Foundations of Library Services, Cataloging, and Introduction to Library Technology. All six of these were offered during this funding year. The State Library has consistently delivered approved courses since the national program began in 2009. Forty-one (41) public library staff in Louisiana have been awarded the designation Certified Library Support Staff. Louisiana has more staff certified than any other state, only California has a number of certified support staff close to that (34). A total of 320 people have taken at least one of the six courses, representing 46 public library systems in Louisiana.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
If our public libraries had to pay private consultants for these same services they would not be able to afford the cost, especially our small, rural libraries. Evaluations regularly say that this assistance if one of the most valuable services that the State Library provides. As one library director said on our annual survey, "The State Library Staff is a wonderful group of individuals that always have the answer when/if needed. We could not do our jobs without their support."
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The pandemic has shown how critical the State Library's continuing education and support is to Louisiana public libraries and their operations. The libraries rely upon our expertise and ability to get the most accurate and up-to-date information from high levels of state government and to pass it on to them. The State Library has consistently provided excellent continuing education opportunities and support on topics of vital interest to libraries, including budgeting, finance, laws, policies, plans, etc. We continue to expand our online training with offerings of specific interest to Louisiana libraries that they are unable to get elsewhere. The LSSC program continues to help library support staff learn and gain confidence in their library knowledge and abilities. These will remain a primary focus of State Library services.
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:
The State Library plans to increase CE offerings and is looking into developing a seventh LSSC course on youth services.
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:
