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In Results: 14 Total Projects $1,946,276.00 LSTA Funds $2,657,282.03 Match Funds

EXCITE Transformation for Libraries

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $34,433.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $0.00

DLD and Innovation Builders led an extensive four-month program of training in 21st century skills, tools, and behaviors for teams from seven public libraries. Between October 2016 and February 2017, the teams learned and practiced collaborative processes to uncover community insights and create innovative, community-engaging programs and services. Each team that completed the training received an LSTA Quick Grant of $2000 or less to implement their new programs over spring and summer 2017. Training was led by Jeanine Esposito from Innovation Builders, an organization with experience guiding companies to innovate new products and services and transform ways of doing business.

Statewide Delivery System (deliverIT CT)

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $487,002.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $286,588.00

LSTA underwrites part of the cost of physical materials delivery among 215 of the state’s public and academic libraries. The delivery system, named deliverIT CT, is the backbone of the state’s resource sharing. deliverIT CT enables reciprocal borrowing in Connecticut: items borrowed from participating institutions may be dropped off at any library, and then deliverIT CT returns the materials to the owning library. In this way, borrowers can use their hometown library cards in any public library in Connecticut and be sure that materials will be returned where they belong. deliverIT CT also supports interlibrary loan through delivery of user-requested library materials between libraries in the state. After a combination of volume increases and budget cutbacks, the State Library took actions to sustain delivery while continuing to provide fair and equitable service to libraries. Starting July 1, 2016, CSL implemented guidelines intended to decrease delivery volume. CSL then undertook a review and adjustment of the service.

Professional Development

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $48,842.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $0.00

The CT State Library provides continuing education for all librarians and library staff in Connecticut in order to allow them to work more effectively and efficiently and to serve their communities better. These educational sessions were offered in person at the Middletown Library Service Center and at some public and academic libraries. Other classes were offered exclusively online as webinars. In addition, the Service Center provides collections of professional development books that can be borrowed by any library employee in Connecticut.

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $502,668.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $227,910.00

The Connecticut State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) provides for the special format reading and information needs of Connecticut residents who are blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped, or reading disabled. The LBPH allows users with disabilities to maintain equal access to print information. The library lends to individual patrons as well as to libraries, schools, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. This year, there were 5,339 active patrons with 576 new patrons added to the rolls. The net number of patrons has remained stable from previous years. The LBPH provides reader's advisory and reference services in addition to lending its collection of Braille books and magazines, digital cartridges, and playback machines to qualifying individuals and organizations in Connecticut. Patrons can also access the NLS inventory online and download audio and Braille books directly from the internet. All services are free, including playback machines and postage, and eligible veterans receive priority service.

Summer Reading

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $44,490.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $0.00

The CT State Library offered programmatic support and tracking software to encourage librarians to implement summer reading programs in their libraries. Summer reading programs encourage children and young adults to read and to maintain or improve their reading skills during the summer break, thereby readying them for the next school year. The State Library participates in the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) to give Connecticut public libraries access to affordable, high quality Summer Reading materials, which include both promotional items (bookmarks, posters, etc.) and programming resources.

Consulting and DLD Administration

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $515,804.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $35,112.00

The State Library's Division of Library Development (DLD) provides assistance to librarians in Connecticut in order to help them learn skills, resolve issues, and provide the best services to their patrons and communities. As part of their regular duties, DLD staff are subject specialists who act as consultants for Connecticut's librarians. DLD continued to support use of the Edge assessment among public libraries and the use of the Aspen Institute's "Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library." Working with a standing committee and broad input from the library community, DLD led the development of the Best Practices in Connecticut Public Libraries to be used as a self-assessment tool. DLD continues to emphasize ongoing programs that address the seven literacies described in its Strategic Focus Plan and helped to sponsor the 2017 Futures Conference.

Resource Sharing via Public Access Computing Environments

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $98,159.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $2,023,505.00

The CT State Library provides multiple statewide services to support resource sharing among libraries. These services are delivered online and provide all Connecticut residents and students with free online access to essential library and information resources. Many of the electronic resources and databases are accessible via a portal called researchIT CT (formerly iCONN). This project also includes the statewide library catalog and ILL system. Division of Library Development staff offer training opportunities on these resources for librarians. There were significant changes to project activities again this year, including interim ILL functions while the new statewide catalog was being implemented, broader use and refinement of the new statewide catalog that was launched in 2016, and continued development of the eBook platform.

Resource Sharing of Supplementary Library Collections

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $203,380.00

Grantee: Connecticut State Library

Match Funds: $73,503.00

The CT State Library provides circulating library materials in print, audio, and digital formats to help supplement library collections. These materials are used most often by public and school libraries. Mid-year, CSL transitioned to a new integrated library system for circulation and collection management. Library staff and volunteers can visit the Service Center in person to select items, request them via the online catalog, or call/email Service Center staff with special requests. Delivery services are provided through deliverIT CT, another LSTA-funded project. In calendar year 2017, CSL tested extended hours of operation three days per month at the Service Center to improve access.

Uncover Branford: your town, your people, your story

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $1,991.00

Grantee: JAMES BLACKSTONE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Match Funds: $1,595.00

Through a series of surveys, interviews, and focus groups, the library identified that Branford residents feel isolated and have a strong desire to make connections within their community. Uncover Branford addresses this need by bringing community members together to create personal connections while exploring the hidden gems that make Branford unique. The target audience is adults, teens, and families in Branford. Uncover Branford consists of monthly meetings where participants meet their neighbors, share stories about their favorite places and memories in Branford, and plan a variety of group outings. Members come together to visit or “uncover” local restaurants, trails, historical sites, shops, and more. During outings, members document their experiences through photographs and a short written piece, which are transformed into display boards and booklets that are both printed and shared with the community. Uncover Branford was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

Locked City Escape Room

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $1,800.00

Grantee: FERGUSON LIBRARY

Match Funds: $868.00

In an effort to attract millennials and diversify programming, the Ferguson Library team distributed surveys and conducted focus groups to understand the millennial population. The library's research revealed that Stamford’s millennials sought stimulating, fun and free after-hours activities. The library found that escape rooms offered all the elements to draw in this constituency. The team, inspired by the 2017 summer reading club theme "Build a Better World," designed an escape room that required participants to uncover secrets and clues found in a scientist’s office to save the planet from destruction. Four groups of participants were given one hour to solve the room. Utilizing elements of augmented reality, the Dewey Decimal system and the periodic table of elements, gamers unlocked the clues to ensure the world’s safety. Through collaborative and creative efforts, several teams solved the room within the hour. This program was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

Bridge Stories and 4Questions

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $1,799.00

Grantee: MILFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Match Funds: $1,058.00

The library's goal was to create a program that would highlight the unique stories of everyday Milford residents, with the hope of building connections between residents, leading to a stronger, more caring, empathetic community. The library's initial plan was to have quarterly story-sharing events where community volunteers would record the stories and take photos of their fellow community members. Stories would be chosen to become posters which would be displayed in the Library and on the library website and social media platforms. All stories would be bound into a book to be kept in the Library’s local history room. After low turnout, the library adapted and simplified its program with the intent of making it more inviting for participants and less time-consuming for library staff to manage. This program was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

Community Connections

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $1,985.00

Grantee: CHESHIRE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Match Funds: $1,092.00

The Cheshire Public Library connected community agencies (non-profit and government organizations) with community members, particularly recent retirees, who were looking for volunteer opportunities. The program also provided a social space for civic-minded individuals to connect with one another. This program was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

REPRESENT Community Art Project

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $2,000.00

Grantee: WALLINGFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Match Funds: $1,546.03

REPRESENT was a six-week community art project inspired by PostSecret (https://postsecret.com/). Under the guidance of professional artist Rashmi Talpade, families collaboratively created postcards which answer the question “What makes you special?” through a combination of images and text. The library provided take home packets to those unable to participate in person. The library held a kickoff event on July 1 featuring an improvisational theatre workshop. Completed postcards, arranged to evoke a rainbow, were exhibited in a final celebration at the library on September 9, 2017. This program was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

MAKEConnections

State: Connecticut

Fiscal Year: 2016

LSTA Funds: $1,923.00

Grantee: CYRENIUS H. BOOTH LIBRARY

Match Funds: $4,505.00

The C.H. Booth Library received feedback and survey data indicating that people in Newtown sought meaningful volunteerism and wanted to participate in concrete projects focused on helping others. The initial project of the MAKEConnections program was the assembly of 3D printed prosthetic hands for distribution by Project e-NABLE, a group that supplies 3D printed assistive devices to people in developing nations. A second phase of the program started in July 2017 with volunteers making quick-release paracord bracelets to donate to Operation Gratitude to be shared with troops serving overseas. The library supplied the materials, and volunteers taught each other how to assemble the bracelets and also wrote letters to bracelet recipients. This program was developed through the CT State Library’s pilot project, EXCITE Transformation for Libraries.

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