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G2S Project Code: 2023-CA-93586
State: California
Fiscal Year: 2023
Grantee
CHULA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Joy Whatley
Director Phone: 619-691-5170
Director Email: jwhatley@chulavistaca.gov
General Information
Title: Memory Lab
State Project Code: LS-I-23-07
Start Date: 07/01/2023
End Date: 09/30/2024
Abstract: Chula Vista Library System established a Memory Lab to help make its local history collection more representative of the diverse population it serves. The Memory Lab enables community members to digitize their family's personal historical images and archival documents, contribute content to the library's local history collection, and contribute to the searchable history of California. Chula Vista Library System acquired specialized equipment and supplies, developed asynchronous training for library staff and the public, and worked closely with Lambda Archives of San Diego, other city departments, specialized vendors, California Revealed project team members, and staff from the Los Angeles Public Library's Octavia Lab to create the Memory Lab for the community.
State Goal: Goal 1: Strengthen the ability of California libraries to design programs and services for all Californians in collaboration with their local communities
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$33,929.00
$0.00
$12,459.00
$46,388.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.
Community Concerns
Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Memory Lab Materials
Narrative: Library staff researched and acquired hardware and software to create a Memory Lab. Memory Labs provide access to technology for community members interested in digitizing and preserving their unique histories and adding their materials to a shared community digital archive. Staff consulted with community groups and attended professional trainings to learn more about equipment that would be most requested, user-friendly, and accessible. Memory Lab materials that support the project included scanners for photos, books, and documents, video capture tools, desktop computers dedicated to memory lab activities, external storage drives for digitized material, cloud-based storage services for the project period, software, and Shades of LA community history books for reference use in the Lab
Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 35
Number of software acquired: 3
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: CHULA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 365 F ST.
City: CHULA VISTA
State: CA
Zip: 91910
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource 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: Memory Lab User Guides
Narrative: Chula Vista Library System staff created two informational user guides to increase access to library resources and support participants in having a positive and user-friendly experience at the Memory Lab, particularly those users who are not familiar with the technology required to digitize their analog materials. The guides are printed and made available to all users of the Memory Lab as a reference to remind them of the information presented in their orientation. The user guide was written in English and translated into a Spanish-language version by bilingual staff members.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 2
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


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: CHULA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 365 F ST.
City: CHULA VISTA
State: CA
Zip: 91910
Name: Chula Vista Public Library - Otay Ranch Branch
Address: 2015 Birch Rd. Suite 1103
City: CHULA VISTA
State: CA
Zip: 91915
Name: Chula Vista Public Library - South Branch
Address: 389 Orange Ave.
City: CHULA VISTA
State: CA
Zip: 91911
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:

Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Having already read some of the final grant reports written by prior Memory Lab grant recipients, library staff knew they needed a long lead time to source and procure materials. The project team learned more about the library's procurement policies as they navigated the acquisition of program supplies and materials. Additionally, staff buy-in on a project is important. Staff who expressed feeling uncertain about providing Memory Lab support to the community suggested allowing more practice time for staff. The library plans to translate its training into Spanish, as feedback from staff suggest that Spanish translation would be beneficial .
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:
Yes
Explain:
Initially there will be additional effort in that staff will be adjusting to the addition of another busy service hub within the library.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
The library plans to expand the objectives to include digitizing existing analog materials and ephemera housed in the city and library's own historical archives
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: history, memory lab, archives