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G2S Project Code: 2020-CT-86395
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn LaValle
Director Phone: 860-704-6507
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov

General Information
Title: Consulting and Division of Library Development Administration
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: Division of Library Development professional staff consulted widely within their subject specialties, which included youth services, statistics, the seven literacies, E-Rate, library management, adult services, and community engagement. This year, DLD placed special emphasis on consultation on inclusive collection development, diversity audits, and digital inclusion. Training on the Emergency Connectivity Fund and the Emergency Broadband Benefit were integrated. Notable advances were made in our communication with public library directors and staff via the refinement of old newsletter formats and the creation of new publications and procedures. New partnerships were launched with Hartford Healthcare and the CT Coalition to End Homelessness. The annual collection of statistics was enriched by the addition of new questions. DLD consultants also supported the implementation of Kedge Futures School boot camps in CT and with librarians from other states. The Division’s director served as the liaison to multiple state and nonprofit agencies led training for new library directors and library boards, and represented the Division on several advisory boards.
State Goal: Libraries as Community Anchors

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$696,978.79

$369,260.57

$0.00

$1,066,239.36

Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Collection Development & Management
Outreach & Partnerships

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Library Statistics
Narrative:

The State Data Coordinator compiled an annual report of public library data that was used by individual libraries to help assess their performance and funding in relation to similar libraries. The report was based on the coordinator's work, using Excel software to collect, analyze, and publish data from the 178 libraries reporting. New questions developed by DLD were added to help libraries document special pandemic-era services to their stakeholders. This year, the data coordinator, with the assistance of consultants, created a new series of “CT Public Library Fact Flyers,” on the themes “At a Glance, Children and YA, or COVID-19” data. Each flyer has room where libraries can add their own highlights and photos for the year. A library consultant has made themselves available to assist libraries with custom designs. The Data Coordinator offered online training to help libraries report their data consistently and to better present their data during budget season.

Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Gathering and packaging data

Quantity

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: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 178
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
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

Activity Details
Title: Communications to State Librarians
Narrative:

Within this funding year, the adult services librarian refined and refurbished the Division of Library Development Weekly Wrap-up and Monthly Newsletter that go out to 1700 librarians or library staff, raising the open and click rates. A new bimonthly Division of Library Development Children and YA Newsletter was developed in collaboration with the youth services librarian. New bi-annual “Directors’ Notes” email posts have an average open rate of 69%. This has been accompanied by the practice of sending “New Public Library Director Welcome Letters full of information about how access Division of Library Development resources. Related was an effort to enhance our visual and graphic designed with an eye toward more online engagement. “CT Pages,” a platform for 20-minute videos in which libraries share community engagement success stories, began broadcasting on Youtube in September 2021.

Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Digital publishing and presentation of information

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 191
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Consulting
Narrative:

Consulting activities included establishing new statewide partnerships, advancing a visionary resource sharing plan, advancing digital inclusion effort, and adding assistance with new COVID emergency connectivity funds and grants. The adult services consultant and the Director launched a collaboration with Hartford Healthcare to offer COVID vaccination clinics and virtual or in-person information sessions with the experts from this institution. In this case, DLD facilitated connections with21 libraries, many of whom hosted such events. Division of Library Development consultants presented resource sharing scenarios to libraries and library boards and helped to lead a joint effort by state libraries in New England, with coordination from the Library of Rhode Island Resource Sharing Working Group, to deliver quality resource sharing-related programming to the library community. A November annual virtual conference focused on controlled digital lending. The E-Rate consultant expanded her advising to include the Emergency Connectivity Fund and developed and launched a Digital Navigator Pilot Project Grant Program.

Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Combined in-person & virtual

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 1,800
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 150

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 178
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 0
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: No
Exemplary Narrative

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