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G2S Project Code: 2021-MA-88310
State: Massachusetts
Fiscal Year: 2021

Grantee
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Project Director
Director Name: Shelley Quezada
Director Phone: 617-725-1860 ext. 235
Director Email: shelley.quezada@mass.gov

General Information
Title: Civic Hub
State Project Code: 22.05.01-02
Start Date: 10/01/2021
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: The Civic Hub projects were carried out in two different libraries: the Reading Public Library and the Shrewsbury Public Library. Both libraries developed programs that invited patrons to participate in nonpartisan information sessions around civic issues. The Shrewsbury Library created a program called Radical Empathy. The Reading Public Library supported learning and engagement on social justice topics through the art of storytelling. A key focus was to diversify representation among presenters and subject matters.

State Goal: Connecting Communities

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$20,000.00

$0.00

$43,701.96

$63,701.96

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.
Civic Affairs
Community Concerns

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Public Discussion on Social Infrastructure
Narrative: A virtual presentation was offered to community residents featuring author Eric Klinenberg to discuss his book Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life

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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 90
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 23
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: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Shrewsbury Free Public Library
Address: 609 Main St
City: Shrewsbury
State: MA
Zip: 01545
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: Program on Dementia and Alzheimers: Compassionately and Effectively Working with People with Dementia
Narrative: The library hosted three virtual lectures featuring Ryan Dowd, national expert on library service to people with dementia, Alzheimers and people experiencing homelessness
Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 3
Average number in attendance per session: 26
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

Activity Details
Title: Staff Training on Domestic Violence
Narrative: RESPOND, Inc facilitated a staff training session for Reading Public Library on the topic of domestic violence. The training covered signs and symptoms, bystander training, and the role libraries can play as both a resource and a safe place.

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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

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

Partner Information

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: READING PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 64 MIDDLESEX AVE.
City: READING
State: MA
Zip: 01867
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: Coming of Age with Climate Change
Narrative:

Reading Public Library offered a program, Coming of Age With Climate Change: An Honest Conversation with Daniel Sherrell. The speaker is a climate activist and organizer currently serving as the Campaign Director for the Climate Jobs National Resource Center. His talk, Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of Our World laid bare the realities of climate change and pleaded with readers to act courageously to alter the narrative in front of them.

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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 21
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: READING PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 64 MIDDLESEX AVE.
City: READING
State: MA
Zip: 01867
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: Staff Training on Mental Health First Aid
Narrative: Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services provided mental health first aid training for Shrewsbury Public Library staff.

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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 480
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 19
Number of times program administered: 1

Partner Information

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: Shrewsbury Free Public Library
Address: 609 Main St
City: Shrewsbury
State: MA
Zip: 01545
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

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Shrewsbury Public Library used a series of surveys sent to attendees the day following their programs designed to assess their engagement with the subjects and content that was discussed. 82% of survey respondents said they felt more aware of issues facing their community and its members after attending one of the grant funded programs (Eric Klinenberg). 61% of survey respondents felt more connected with other members of their community after attending one of the grant funded programs. 80% of survey respondents said they felt more empathy and understanding towards other members of their community (the overall goal of the grant) after attending one of the grant funded programs. 83% of survey respondents said they were more likely to attend programs on topics such as social justice and community engagement in the future after attending one of the grant funded programs. 93% of survey respondents said they viewed the library as an important community hub and a place to go to learn more about issues facing their community. At Reading Public Library, the library decided to strike a balance by offering content for education, enjoyment, connection, and wellness. They noted there can be a hesitation of featuring tough, sensitive topics for several reasons: fear/concern of community backlash, politicizing of a specific event; fear of low-attended programs; a general desire to gravitate toward crowd pleasers. The library challenged its staff and its community by attempting to offer both kinds of programming.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Shrewsbury Public Library engaged with the community and encouraged a deeper empathy and understanding amongst members. Their series of grant funded programs clearly demonstrated a significant desire within the Shrewsbury community to reach a deeper understanding to work past the numerous issues that divided them. Reading Public Library used the concept of "Our “stage” to offer stories of hope through creative writing groups for youth to freely express themselves or magical drum circles that celebrated culture, community harmony, and a re-centering of self. The library offered safe space for brave voices on domestic violence, HIV, and racial justice while threading connections to past and current movements and advocacy work. If one's voice had been diminished, misunderstood, or misrepresented, programming offered a place for reflection or rejuvenation. The library provided a Community Read celebrating body neutrality and used connections with local organizations to honor, respect and empower marginalized groups. Ultimately, Reading's project was designed to celebrate the power of voice and storytelling as a bystander, an active participant, or a change maker.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
At Reading Public Library, the project director noted "the community taught the value and complexities of bridging learning to a community that may operate more as bystanders or observers instead of active participants in these discussions. "As a result they will now establish programming pillars similar to a Collection Statement that directs the library's program construction and implementation efforts. Thus the following Public Services Division Programming Pillars: Environmental Education explore environmental issues, understand climate justice, find ways to take action; Health & Wellness enhance health literacy and equity through meaningful access to health information; Diversity & Inclusion honest reflection and structural change by developing and funding programs and services, and collections that center the voices and experiences of marginalized voices; Human Rights be central in public discourse that embodies human dignity and advocates in defense of intellectual freedom. The library developed a landing page for civic and community issues https://readingpl.org/communityresources/. At Shrewsbury Public Library, the lesson learned was that larger-scale programs that involved coordinating with multiple organizations are extremely difficult to execute, particularly during a pandemic. Of the five planned Community Conversations, only one was able to be held during the twelve-month span of the grant. This was simply due to scheduling complexities. In spite of this the library will continue to offer programs on subjects such as empathy, community engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
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 NarrativeBoth the Shrewsbury Public Library and Reading Public Library projects were exemplary in design and execution. At Reading Public Library, the goal was to support learning and engagement in social justice topics by using storytelling to combat divisive attitudes in the community. An effort was made to thread consistent and inclusive representation among the presenters, subject matters, and ultimately, stories shared and digested. The project afforded participants of all ages the opportunity to participate in a range of workshops, lectures, storytimes, and community read activities where they could share their own stories while learning of and from the stories of others. Shrewsbury Public Library put together an extremely ambitious program that successfully produced the desired result of engaging with the community and encouraging deeper empathy and understanding amongst its members. The content of the programs clearly resonated with the overwhelming majority of those who responded to the post-program survey, and the relatively steady attendance numbers over the course of the series showed continued interest in such topics over a significant period of time.

Project Tags: Civic Engagement