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G2S Project Code: 2021-RI-89824
State: Rhode Island
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Cheryl Space
Director Phone: 401-491-2916
Director Email: cspace@clpvd.org
General Information
Title: ARPA: Conectando II
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2021
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: Building on a previous grant project, Providence Community Library (PCL) continued its Conectando project to increase its relevance to neighbors near the Olneyville, South Providence, Washington Park, Knight Memorial, and Mt. Pleasant Libraries, where over 40% of residents speak Spanish. PCL used information from focus groups, Spanish-speaking library staff, and a programming consultant to grow meaningful experiences for Spanish speakers within library spaces to mirror the depth of programming and outreach currently offered to English speakers. Opportunities offered included commercial and recreational arts workshops, street-level marketing, and artistic residencies that built cultural and linguistic diversity in library programming and more inclusive neighborhood gathering spaces while supporting local Spanish-speaking artists and entrepreneurs. In-person gatherings offered social connections and support for residents in neighborhoods most impacted by the isolation and anguish of the COVID-19 pandemic in Providence.

State Goal: Engagement
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$50,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$50,000.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Artists in Residence
Narrative: Providence Community Library (PCL) in partnership with consultant Hernan Jourdan, Ministry of Future Access (MFA), hosted three artists-in-residence between May and July at three library locations. A jury comprised of library staff and independent artists guided the artists through the application process. Three local artists held weekly workshops for the library's local community in Spanish and English. The courses were: parade and theater, drawing and painting, and a film screening and discussion series. From these workshops, attendees created masks, performed on a street parade; created four mural-like paintings, and engaged in active discussion through the film series. Through video and photo documentation, PCL and MFA were able to leave extensive footage of the activities for future reference and the artists’ portfolios.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 37
Number of sessions in program: 110
Average number in attendance per session: 4
Number of times program administered: 1


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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: Yes
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: Yes
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: PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Address: 441 PRAIRIE AVENUE
City: PROVIDENCE
State: RI
Zip: 02905
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: Cultural and Educational Workshops
Narrative: Libraries held workshops based on their immediate community interests. These workshops included one-time events and series and were targeted at all ages, including family programs. The workshops were designed and delivered by PCL staff as well as community organizations and experts. Workshops offered included gardening, dance, sewing, creative writing, cooking, and immigration education.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 75
Number of sessions in program: 75
Average number in attendance per session: 11
Number of times program administered: 1


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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: Yes
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: Yes
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: PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Address: 441 PRAIRIE AVENUE
City: PROVIDENCE
State: RI
Zip: 02905
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 63
Agree: 29
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 5
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 56
Agree: 38
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 56
Agree: 38
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 2
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 57
Agree: 38
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 1
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 53
Agree: 41
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 1
Activity Details
Title: Neighborhood Outreach
Narrative: PCL contracted with a Spanish Language Outreach Specialist to engage people in the Conectando workshops and residences. PCL learned in focus groups conducted through a previous grant project in July 2021 that word-of-mouth promotion is crucial to engaging Spanish-speakers. The Outreach Specialist canvassed the targeted neighborhoods distributing flyers to corner stores, laundromats, and other small businesses, as well as engaging with radio stations and publications popular among the Spanish-speaking community. As part of these efforts, 982 people attended the 112 in-person events offered by the program. 257 unique individuals were served by this project.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: In-person
Other: Canvassing/Outreach


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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: Yes
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: PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Address: 441 PRAIRIE AVENUE
City: PROVIDENCE
State: RI
Zip: 02905
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Spanish-speaking residents who have never used a PCL library will make the library part of their weekly/monthly routine. The library saw repeated programming engagement, with participants reliably attending multiple workshops in a series. Artists within the community found a place to share their art and expertise through PCL, adding additional channels through which the library can strengthen its links with its community of users.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
By creating a community outreach program that emerges from the same community the library is trying to serve, the library exponentially increased the number of people reached. News of the programs offered spread not only through those attending the programs but through word of mouth resulting from outreach efforts, which becomes an essential tool to communicate the library's services and that the library is a community space open for multiple purposes.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Working in collaboration with existing community organizations/institutions is essential to reach underserved communities. Libraries looking to connect with specific communities should consider offering a variety of activities in which community members can see themselves reflected (art, dance, cooking, etc.) in addition to traditional library activities (storytime, author presentations, etc.).
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:
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: programming, Spanish