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G2S Project Code: 2021-WA-89472
State: Washington
Fiscal Year: 2021

Grantee
Washington State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Carolyn Petersen
Director Phone: 360-570-5560
Director Email: carolyn.petersen@sos.wa.gov

General Information
Title: Statewide Assistance to Public and Tribal Libraries
State Project Code: 9550-2241-01, 9550-2241-10
Start Date: 10/01/2021
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: Statewide Assistance to Libraries provides support to all types of libraries in Washington including consulting, training, book sharing, and publications like weekly emails of Washington State Library Updates with news about training, grant opportunities, programming, and more.

State Goal: Goal 5. Develop professional skills and build capacity among all libraries

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$142,200.47

$0.00

$142,200.47

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Arts, Culture & Humanities

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Check Out Washington
Narrative:

This program has grown to include every public library/system in Washington plus the two military base libraries. This program provides a backpack for families to check out. Each backpack has a special library ‘Discover Pass’ which allows free entrance into state parks and other state-owned land, a pair of binoculars, two pamphlet guides to Washington trees and birds, and a state map listing all the state park locations. This year the Washington State Parks Commission and Washington State Parks Foundation provided an additional 400 Discover Passes to promote park visits among groups which traditionally have not used the state parks.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 6,960
Average number of items circulated / month: 580
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: Yes
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: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: Yes
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: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 60
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 2
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Community Book Project (Book Sharing)
Narrative: The community book project reallocates donated books from community reads programs at larger libraries across the state. Schools, hospitals, and public libraries can select available copies from the dedicated website at no cost. This allows libraries with a surplus of the same titles to share them with libraries that might not otherwise be able to purchase them. During this reporting period, the program received 85 orders for 1260 items.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Physical
Other: Book distribution

Quantity

Partner Information

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: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 18
Academic Libraries: 2
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 29
Other: 1

Activity Details
Title: Consultations to rural and tribal libraries
Narrative: Consultant meets with libraries across the state either in person or virtually on matters ranging from trustee training to governance to weeding to administration.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 69
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 6

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

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: 47
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 10
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Washington state has many rural communities with libraries that have limited resources and that are only able to provide limited services to their customers. The same is often true for tribal libraries. This program tailors activities to the needs of the libraries and ranges from help with weeding to supporting the integrated library system to funding professional development. The Assistant Program Manager was able to resume regular site visits during this reporting period, which allowed program staff to better understand the needs of library staff. High turnover on library staff and boards has created a need for specialized training and resources for these audiences.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Site visits and individual consultations continue to be an important component of this program to ascertain ways to better serve libraries.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Washington State Library needs to be aware of the factors that determine each community's abilities to provide the best services. Program staff tries to be as flexible as possible in helping support both rural and tribal libraries.
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

Project Tags: tribal, rural, public