Partnership for a literate and more prosperous Groton community

Partnership for a literate and more prosperous Groton community

Project Summary Description:

It has been determined that a need for literacy, basic education, and GED materials exists at the Groton Public Library (herein referred to as GPL). Currently the GPL has no holdings of adult literacy materials, basic education or GED materials. It is al known that few library resources are available in the Tompkins county area. The main objective of this grant is to fill this gap in library holdings. It is also the purpose of this project to create a working relationship and a visible community connection between the Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County and the GPL. It has been determined that these initial steps are necessary to facilitate future projects and larger goals.

Service:

The 549 residents of the Village of Groton and Town of Groton identified by the 2000 US census who do not hold high school diplomas will be the primary service target of this project. The Groton Public Library serves 5600 area residents. Literacy Volunteers tutor Tompkins County residents including those interested in coming to Groton for tutoring from outside the Groton area but within Tompkins County, such as Freeville, Dryden, or McLean.

The GPL will build a collection of GED preparation materials, basic education and adult literacy materials. The library staff will be trained by Literacy Volunteers tutors in the use of materials for appropriate referral and assistance as necessary. Much of this new collection will be available for circulation throughout Tompkins County through the Finger Lakes Library System of which GPL is a member. By adding this proposed collection of resources to the GPL the collection is effectively being added to all of Tompkins Counties Libraries.

Project Description:

According to the 2000 U.S. Bureau of Census, Census 2000, of the 3780 Town of Groton residents identified over the age of 25, 147 had not achieved an education level of 9^th grade. 402 residents had obtained a 9^th grade or higher education level but had no high school diploma or equivalent. Of all Groton residents 25 years of age or older, 14.52% do not hold a high school diploma or equivalency.

More than 12.9% of Groton households were identified by the 2000 census as earning below $15,000 annually. The Health and Human Services poverty guidelines as reported by the Federal Register, Vol. 67, no. 31, define a family of 3 earning $15,020 as living in poverty. The livable wage in Tompkins County for a single person as defined by the Alternatives Credit Union for 2000 was $17,540, well above the income of many Groton families. It is the determination of the Groton Public Library and the Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County to assist individuals in achieving a higher reading level,

basic education or in obtaining a GED and to help Groton families improve their standard of living.

Currently Literacy Volunteers are teaching 3 students at the Groton Public Library. There is currently no established cooperation between GPL and Literacy Volunteers. There is no established means available to draw people in need of literacy services into the library. Obtaining the resources requested will enhance the reading material available to these students, their teachers and other persons not yet identified. Attracting students to the services offered via posters, brochures, mailings and other communications means such as radio and public television spots created in partnership of the GPL and the Literacy Volunteers will get the word out that services do exist. It is also a goal to attract new Literacy Volunteers from the Groton Community and local colleges to be trained by Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County. The selection of resources and program goals presented here was done with the cooperation of both Library staff and Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County, the first formal discussion of such a union in Tompkins County.

Project activities are designed to forge a partnership between Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County and the Groton Public Library and to obtain or create the necessary tools to attract potential students and tutors. Activities such as the initial back to school mini program theme and the reading list for parents are specifically aimed at parents of school age children and may potentially attract other family members and child care providers to the program either as students or tutors.

Invite interested guests to July meeting and request input for meeting agenda items. Include school board and teachers, All Literacy Volunteers, staff members and board members, all library staff members volunteers and board members, County and local political office holders. Ask for an RSVP and agenda items mailed.

Agenda recommendations for the first partnership meeting presented to Directors. Directors prepare agenda.

First meeting of the partnership at the Groton Public Library; introductions, acquisitions and budget discussions: Elect Chair to act as coordinator for one year, designate committee members to; prepare identification of project success/failure, prepare liaison with local colleges for recruitment of literacy teachers, advertising and marketing, and other identified resources. Literacy Volunteers discuss literacy, GED, basic education student goals and success to date.

Mini Programming theme, ‘Back to School’ prepared including advertising and distribution considerations. Order is placed for all library materials.

Items are previewed as they arrive and instruction is given to Groton Library staff by literacy volunteers to assure appropriate assistance can be given to patrons as necessary.

Second formal meeting of the partnership: acquisitions, budget, and programming discussions. ‘Back to School’ theme materials distributed to parents by Groton Central School.

Third formal meeting of the partnership: Begin assessment of acquisitions and programming. Begin preparation of materials and programming for Thanksgiving theme event: Groton Community invitation to view new books and literacy and basic education programs.

Thanksgiving theme literacy event hosted by GPL: Introduce new materials to Groton community.

Forth formal meeting of the partnership: Formal assessment of student participation in program. GPL examines circulation and reference statistics. Chair examines committee reports. Identify and contact other organizations who may wish to participate including but not limited to other literacy organizations, transportation services, advertising services, libraries, etc.. Discuss recruitment of new committee members. Literacy Volunteers to discuss student assessments, recruitment success/failure improvement.

Fifth formal meeting of the partnership: Elect committee members to prepare draft proposal for 2004 grant. Identify other funding sources. Discuss summer literacy campaign targeted at local migrant workers.

Mailing and/or phone calls to members to keep on track and Brainstorm new programming ideas. Prepare summer literacy campaign aimed at local migrant workers.

Sixth formal meeting of the partnership: Refine future programming ideas and begin cost analysis. Consider new acquisitions and needs. Finalize and mail 2004 grant proposal. Consider recognition and awards for May Literacy Luncheon. Literacy Volunteers to discuss student assessments, recruitment success/failure improvement ideas.

Seventh formal meeting of the partnership: Finalize plans for luncheon, examine suggested summer reading for continuous learning in the Groton Community not necessarily aimed at low level education but aimed at economic growth potential (getting that job, budgeting, etc.).

Distribute suggested Parents summer reading list via Groton Central School and other identified locations.

Literacy Volunteers use standardized measurements such as National Core indicators, and Reported contact hours, as well as other established reporting methods to establish student achievement. In addition to standardized measurements student goals are clearly defined prior to beginning instruction. The GPL and the Finger Lakes Library System currently keep records of statistics such as circulation, in house use, and interlibrary loans and can determine if newly acquired items have been used. Phone and in person referrals to resources and literacy, basic education and GED training taken by both GPL and Literacy Volunteers will determine if program and resource advertising has reached its intended audience. Upon the first 6 month program evaluation it will be determined if advertising needs are being met and program goals are being effectively achieved adjustments will be made based upon this evaluation.

Library Assistant, it will be necessary to employ an additional library assistant to assist in the acquisition, cataloging, shelving, shifting, and preparation of all new materials procured for this project. Salary has been determined based upon past practice. The Library Assistant is expected to work a total of 50 hours supplementing the work of the regular staff. Resume enclosed.

Advertising costs are based upon past practice as well as quotes from the United States Postal Service. Advertising of the new resources and services is a primary objective of the project.

Travel expenses: Literacy Volunteers are currently based in Ithaca, New York. It will be necessary for teachers to drive from Ithaca to Groton (28 miles round trip) to tutor students. To ensure that this project does not deplete the current travel budget of the Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County it has been determined to include a projected possible expense in this budget. It will also be necessary for GPL staff to meet with Literacy Volunteer staff to discuss program direction and outcomes. Seven formal meeting are scheduled and, several informal meeting of committee members are expected. Three themed events scheduled and budgeted for. Travel reimbursement is calculated at thirty-five cents per mile. The budget has been calculated to support 10 literacy volunteers 2 trips to Groton a week. It has been calculated into the budget that there will be 10 members of the partnership committee the director of literacy volunteers has been calculated to be reimbursed round trip travel expenses 9 times. The Groton Public library director has been scheduled for 2 round trips to Ithaca. This program assumes that all meeting will be held at the Groton Public Library.

The Groton Public Library will absorb expenses such as those created by increased library use and increased staff involvement in program activities. The Literacy Volunteers will absorb the cost of expenses such as those created by increased phone inquiries and scheduling of volunteers to the Groton area. Both parties will keep accurate records of increased cost and time to determine future funding needs. Both parties will share these records freely with the other.