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G2S Project Code: 2023-CT-93554
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2023

Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn La Valle
Director Phone: 860-757-6507
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov

General Information
Title: Consulting and Division of Library Development Administration
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 09/30/2024
Abstract: Division of Library Development professional staff consulted within their specialties, which included youth and adult services, statistics, E-Rate, digital inclusion, library management, and partnerships. The DLD placed emphasis on consultation on providing greater accessibility that expands inclusion and developed a substantive diversity plan to guide this support work. Consultants continued to help implement partnerships with GIANT Room, Libraries without Borders, and TFSX Futures School. The latter was carried out with librarians from other states. The Division’s director served as the liaison to multiple state and nonprofit agencies, including the CT Dyslexia Awareness Campaign (DAC) , led training for library directors and boards, and represented the Division on several advisory boards.
State Goal: Libraries as Community Anchors

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$619,157.92

$373,974.58

$0.00

$993,132.50

Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Library Skills

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Consulting
Narrative: Consultants carried out work in their subject specialties. To develop the division’s expertise in advancing "Growing Equitable Libraries" (GELS), a series that shared training for trauma-informed, anti-racist, and emotionally conscious community hubs, consultants developed a comprehensive division Diversity Plan and increased accessibility of DLD resources. Consultants continued to develop and implement "All CT Reads," a yearlong initiative that promoted lifelong reading via a community committee structure. One consultant maintained CT Libraries & Partners for Digital Equity, a network supporting digital navigation initiatives at libraries and helped administer a digital navigation regional sharing project among 7 libraries. Activities also included continuing a statewide partnership with Library without Borders and finalizing work with Novus Insights, Inc., to create a platform for public libraries to submit their annual reports to us for fiscal year 2024. This streamlined the annual report process and ability to create statistical profiles.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

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

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 1,800
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 150

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: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 190
Academic Libraries: 33
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 3
School Libraries: 876
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Library Statistics
Narrative: The FY2024 CT Public Libraries’ Annual Report moved to a new platform for reporting statistics. The platform was created by Novus Insights Inc. as a website anchored by a cloud-based system where library administrators and staff create accounts and fill out their report. All users will have access to their past reports from 2016 as well as charts with a variety of data points they can download. Several new features were implemented to increase efficiency in the reporting structure and review process. Some of these features include libraries being able to explain large statistical differences from the previous year right in their response. This, in turn, helps the State Data Coordinator provide the full explanations needed for the IMLS Public Libraries’ Survey. The State Data Coordinator is also able to send requests for updates via the platform, eliminating multiple back and forth emails. A grand export of all data for the Statistical Profile will make it much easier for the State Data Coordinator to prepare these reports. The State Data Coordinator offered two webinars to give an overview of the new platform and to explain new questions that were added by the CT State Library and IMLS. She also set up a calendar for librarians to book virtual appointments during which they could ask specific questions about the report. We had 173 libraries submit their reports.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Collecting and packaging data.

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 173
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

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: Communications to Librarians in the State
Narrative: Communications with the state’s library workforce experienced growth. The DLD Monthly Newsletter has over 2,000 library staff subscribers and the average open and click rates increased to 46% and 6%, respectively. The Weekly Wrap-up distributed through the statewide listserv nearly every Friday was received by 1,462 individuals. The DLD Children and YA Newsletter grew to over 450 subscribers with an average open rate of 60% and click rate of 14%. The bi-annual Directors’ Notes email sent to all 190 library directors in CT, again increased the open rate to 74% with a steady click rate of 14%. CT Pages, a channel for sharing community engagement success stories by libraries, to date, has 33 videos which have received a total of 3,056 views.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Publishing and presentation of information

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 190
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Our original conception of the tasks of consultants has been expanded by experience. In their capacity as library liaisons with the State Library, they are increasingly called upon to help libraries think out how confront big practical and policy issues that span the realm of budgeting, community relations, and governance, as well as new challenges such as state collaboration on digital inclusion.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Public, school, and academic library staff need currently includes access to experts and this need continues to grow. Thus, we found that we must not only provide expert training through our Professional Development work but must also provide expert training to the Division consultants tasked with the first line of support. This need was made especially plain in the arena of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Thus, we plan to expand staff training.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
All State Library agency staff who interact with public and school librarians, especially those in the Division of Library Development, must be provided with top level issues and policy training oriented to those who do support work.
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:
The Division of Library Development will provide more hours to consultant and staff training so that our support to public and school libraries is at an expert level.
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: