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G2S Project Code: 2021-KY-89877
State: Kentucky
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives

Project Director
Director Name: Lauren Abner
Director Phone: 502-564-1728
Director Email: lauren.abner@ky.gov
General Information
Title: Workforce Subgrant
State Project Code: FY22044D
Start Date: 10/01/2020
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives sought to improve the knowledge and confidence of adult library users in relation to workforce development and digital literacy by providing laptops and hotspots as a sub-grant to public libraries throughout the Commonwealth.  Sixteen (16) Kentucky public libraries received awards for hotspot service, hotspot hardware, laptop software, and additional supplies to maintain their lending programs for a second year.
State Goal: Lifelong Learning
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$66,687.28
$0.00
$0.00
$66,687.28
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Digital Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Laptop and Hotspot Lending Program
Narrative: The Workforce Laptop-Hotspot Subgrant provided a second year of service for sixteen Kentucky public libraries to circulate 105laptops and hotspots together as kits. This program targeted patrons with workforce development needs. Participants borrowed the laptop-hotspot kit for a period set by the local library, and the kit included workforce development information compiled by the library. The kits circulated 1,882 times between October2021 to September 2022.  
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 1,882
Average number of items circulated / month: 157
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0


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: 18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
70+ years
For what economic types: Unemployed
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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: BREATHITT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 1024 COLLEGE AVENUE
City: JACKSON
State: KY
Zip: 41339
Name: ESTILL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 184 BROADWAY ST
City: IRVINE
State: KY
Zip: 40336
Name: GARRARD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 101 LEXINGTON STREET
City: LANCASTER
State: KY
Zip: 40444
Name: GREEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 112 WEST COURT STREET
City: GREENSBURG
State: KY
Zip: 42743
Name: KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 401 KENTON LANDS RD
City: ERLANGER
State: KY
Zip: 41018
Name: LINCOLN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 201 LANCASTER STREET
City: STANFORD
State: KY
Zip: 40484
Name: MARSHALL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 1150 BIRCH ST
City: BENTON
State: KY
Zip: 42025
Name: Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library
Address: 1530 S Green St
City: GLASGOW
State: KY
Zip: 42141
Name: MCCREARY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 6 NORTH MAIN STREET
City: WHITLEY CITY
State: KY
Zip: 42653
Name: MUHLENBERG COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Address: 117 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: GREENVILLE
State: KY
Zip: 42345
Name: OLDHAM COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 308 YAGER AVENUE
City: LAGRANGE
State: KY
Zip: 40031
Name: PENDLETON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 801 ROBBINS AVE
City: FALMOUTH
State: KY
Zip: 41040
Name: PIKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
Address: 119 COLLEGE STREET
City: PIKEVILLE
State: KY
Zip: 41501
Name: POWELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 725 BRECKINRIDGE STREET
City: STANTON
State: KY
Zip: 40380
Name: PULASKI COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 304 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: SOMERSET
State: KY
Zip: 42501
Name: SPENCER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 168 TAYLORSVILLE ROAD
City: TAYLORSVILLE
State: KY
Zip: 40071
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Participating libraries had more success in the 2nd year of the project with firmly established programs receiving wider recognition with the public. All 16 libraries indicated that they would continue at least the hotspot lending portion of their programs, with thirteen applying for support from the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund for 12 more months of hotspot service. Only the most urban library in the project had greater demand for the laptops than hotspots. Reporting from these libraries again emphasized the key benefits of lending equipment for use at home—the ability to explore and learn in the privacy of the patron’s home and the ability to use the equipment at convenient times when the library is closed. On the negative side, several libraries cautioned that processing the returns was time-intensive and led to some mistakes in not accounting for some of the smaller accessories included in the kits. Some highlights from library reporting: • “Patrons are not afraid to seek the library out for help in preparing for the workforce, and one patron has completed the courses necessary for her to enter the medical field while looking out for the welfare of her children. Being able to stay at home and finish the required courses helped her family move forward into a different lifestyle.” – Estill County Public Library • “One customer told me that she was grateful for the service since it allowed her to take an exam when her computer was having technical problems.” – Garrard County Public Library • McCreary County Public Library created a “Getting Started” booklet to provide information on using the computer and hotspots, creating an email account, how and where to search and apply for jobs, resources for creating resumes, GED information, and information about the library’s online databases and other library resources. • “One man was happy to know he could finish his class after his computer stopped working. He said, ‘I can’t believe this is available at our library. I thought things like this were only available in big cities!’.” – Muhlenberg County Public Library • “The kits were always in use and had holds on them. There were many repeat users. The kits brought new patrons into the library. The program also provided patrons with more reliable internet, a basic necessity. Providing the kits also made the library more relevant to a portion of our service area, and let all patrons know that we were able to provide this basic need to our community. The program should be replicated by other libraries..” – Oldham County Public Library • “On the whole the project has been a success. Patrons used the kits more for school or to work from home while they were quarantined or their office had not reopened. Not as many patrons used the kits for job searches and these patrons were not repeat users. While the ones used for school or work used them repeatedly. The Board has decided to keep the program going for another year.” – Spencer County Public Library Areas of concerns: • “One of the challenges we faced was confirming that all materials were present. I created a list of all the contents, but it was pretty lengthy, and staff had some issues confirming that all materials were returned. This led to one of the hotspots being lost.” – Kenton County Public Library • “It’s much appreciated and needed by patrons. It is rather staff intensive, with procedures at check-in and checkout to ensure all items are turned and all items are sent home with the patrons and in troubleshooting malfunctioning devices and hardware. When kits are not returned, it has a major impact on the program. For our community, we will continue the service as long as possible.” – Pendleton County Public Library
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Rather than each library handling its own IT support for laptop/hotspot lending, Kentucky libraries may benefit from a statewide digital navigators program similar to the ones created by the Arizona State Library, California State Library, and others. Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) recently received a National Digital Navigator Corps grant from NDIA to pilot a program in six eastern Kentucky counties, including a county whose library participated in the KDLA Workforce Grant. It will be interesting to see if a more permanent program results from the pilot that would dovetail with public libraries’ digital literacy efforts.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Libraries may see better results from implementing hotspot lending for six months to one year before adding laptops or tablets to circulation. The hotspots are easier to handle and more likely to circulate. Smaller participating libraries may have benefitted from templates provided by the SLAA for lending policies, resource guides, and promotion that were not possible due to ongoing staffing issues.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
Yes
Explain:

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:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Workforce, Laptop Lending, Hotspot Lending