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G2S Project Code: 2023-NY-92954
State: New York
Fiscal Year: 2023

Grantee
New York State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Tor Loney
Director Phone: 518-486-2189
Director Email: tor.loney@nysed.gov

General Information
Title: Community Engagement and Outreach to Underserved Populations
State Project Code: 0070-16-2010
Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 09/30/2024
Abstract: The New York State Library, in partnership with public library systems, supports access to library services for specific target groups, such as persons incarcerated in state and county correctional facilities, persons with physical and learning disabilities, the elderly, persons speaking languages other than English, the unemployed and underemployed, adults who are illiterate, persons living in geographically isolated areas, at-risk youth from birth to 21, Native Americans, and New Yorkers having difficulty using a library. The intended outcome of the project is improved knowledge, literacy, and workforce development skills among the targeted populations of library users. To this end, the State Library provided state-level leadership, planning, coordination, consultation, and support services.
State Goal: Community Engagement and Social Well-being.

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$134,975.58

$2,369,043.00

$0.00

$2,504,018.58

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Outreach & Partnerships

Activities

Activity Details
Title: Outreach Instruction and Partnerships
Narrative: The State Library partnered with other State agencies and nonprofit organizations to disseminate timely information statewide to public library staff and library system outreach coordinators via the Outreach page on the State Library's website and through listserv postings about outreach, education topics such as workforce development, healthcare, high school equivalency exams (GED), and citizenship and immigration resources. New partners included the Committee on Open Government, New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, Buffalo Toronto Public Media, and several local authors. The Library also increased internal collaboration, partnering with the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL), NYS Museum, and NYS Office of Public Broadcasting. During the reporting period, the Outreach webpage was overhauled for improved usability, accuracy, and accessibility. As before, it contains an up-to-date list of available job searching resources maintained by all of the individual library systems in the state to assist in access and resource sharing to improve the quality of life for users.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Virtual
Other: Information shared via statewide listservs and via State Library Outreach webpages

Quantity

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

Public Libraries: 762
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 23
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: State Support to Enhance Library Outreach
Narrative: The State Library supported outreach and services through numerous State-funded programs offered by New York State's 23 public library systems including: 23 coordinated outreach programs, 23 adult literacy/workforce development programs, 22 library services to county jails programs, and 17 library services to State correctional facilities programs. The State Library hosts bi-monthly Zoom meetings with the Outreach Coordinators from all of public library systems in the state. The State Library also provided State funding for two public libraries serving Native Americans. These State funds support a wide range of library services and programs that improve access to public library services for special target populations enhancing their personal, educational and working lives. State Library staff partnered with 23 public library system outreach coordinators and with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) staff in providing library services to incarcerated individuals in New York's State and County Correctional Facilities through two statewide programs: Public Library System Services for State Correctional Facilities and Public Library System Services for County Jails. State Library staff presented at 2 statewide meetings with a total attendance of 23. Attendees at these events included staff from the State Library, public library system outreach coordinators and directors, DOCCS staff, and facility librarians. Content focused on improving the ability of persons incarcerated through the DOCCS to obtain and use information resources to enhance their lives. DOCCS staff also attended all Outreach Coordinator meetings.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 362
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 30

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: New York State Library
Address: Cultural Education Center 222 Madison Avenue, Room 10C34
City: Albany
State: NY
Zip: 12230

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Several internal structure changes occurred during the reporting periods that impacted outcomes in this area. Staff duties in NYSL were restructured, and a new person is now in charge of outreach and coordinating correctional library services. The head of the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) program also retired during this period. Both of these resulted in changes in quantity and methodology for correctional outreach; in working with outreach coordinators and correctional staff to determine how to best meet their needs, some redundancies were eliminated, and the Library was able to streamline communications to provide more direct assistance. An increase in interdepartmental collaboration, most notably with the NYS Museum, Archives, and Office of Educational Television and Public Broadcasting, led to new opportunities and partnerships that the Library anticipates continuing to grow. Several programs were offered in partnership with the Museum and Public Broadcasting and partnered programs like these are intended to become operational norms.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
It has been helpful to review past practices through the lens of improving both efficiency and level of service; in many instances it has been easy to do both by making an adjustment. Opening this process to include outreach coordinators has been valuable, as it created a truly informed and service-directed result and has also deepened the relationship between NYSL and the field. The Library has worked intentionally to put a human face on its services, and it has been clear that libraries appreciate and value this. Increasing internal collaboration has provided new opportunities for programs and partnerships, which translate to expanded possibilities for the libraries the Library serves. An example of this is a program offered in partnership with the Office of Public Broadcasting that led to us assisting libraries in connecting with their local public broadcasting stations to create partnered programs.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
One significant lesson is that it is beneficial to continually and repeatedly review current practices and involve stakeholders in this process. Another is to seek out partners with similar missions and service populations. It may seem obvious for museums and libraries to work together, but in the Library's experience, this is in fact uncommon, including previously in New York State.
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: outreach, community