Collaborations to Support Children's Literacy
1. Applicant: Canterbury Public Library
Municipality: Canterbury
Funding Requested: $19,552
Project Abstract:
Canterbury Public Library wants to be the first resource for parents of children getting ready to enter kindergarten. Ladder
to Literacy is a program they have developed to immerse 4-5 year olds and their parents in a variety of learning experiences
designed to enhance early literacy skills. Parents will actively participate alongside their child and will also attend workshops
designed to help them develop their child's early literacy skills at home.
2. Applicant: Booth & Dimock Memorial Library
Municipality: Coventry
Funding Requested: $11,088
Project Abstract:
This project represents a unique partnership between the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library and Coventry childcare providers
and preschools to establish a Raising A Reader TM program for children ages 0-5, provide training for childcare providers
and parents to enhance early literacy development in children, and to create an early literacy space called The Story Space
in the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library. Raising A Reader TM is an award-winning take-home book bag program that promotes
reading aloud in the home. The Story Space is a physical space and a collection of long-term circulation materials that help
nurture early literacy development in children.
3. Applicant: East Hampton Public Library
Municipality: East Hampton
Funding Requested: $7,844
Project Abstract:
This project seeks to serve children in grades K-6 by establishing summer reading outreach programs. Programs will invest
library and community resources - human and material - to help children choose to read during summer when they are not in
school. Resources will be selected and deployed to children in summer programs offered at other locations, by other groups.
Though the project intends to extend the reading experiences of children in grades K-6, other children may also participate.
Project partners will be two local government agencies and one childcare provider who serve the same ages.
4. Applicant: Hartford Public Library
Municipality: Hartford
Funding Requested: $20,000
Project Abstract:
The Hartford Public Library and City of Hartford Early Learning Centers (ELC) propose Smart Start, a sustained and intensive
effort to support the early literacy of the 167 preschool and 100 kindergarten children enrolled at the Centers' nine sites.
The effort will be based on two research-based and research-tested programs, Every Child Ready to Read @ your library and
Literacy: The Creative Curriculum Approach. Primary caregivers, teachers, and librarians will gain knowledge of the key early
literacy skills that these programs identify, and the home, classroom, and library practices that support children's acquisition
of these skills. Specific outcomes are anticipated to include:
· Parents will improve their understanding of early literacy and increase their support for their child's literacy acquisition;
· ELC classroom staff will read to children in a manner that builds early literacy skills;
· Parents and ELC classroom staff will make more and higher-quality printed materials available to children in the home or
classroom; and
· Teachers and librarians will better understand how to support families facing the challenges of low income and a range of
adult literacy levels in creating rich home language environments for children.
Funding is requested for family workshop supplies and presenters, incentives that are also tools for families (books and supplies
for home literacy projects), transportation from ELC sites to the Library, professional training for teachers and librarians,
training manuals, classroom book collections,and library materials.
5. Applicant: New Britain Public Library
Municipality: New Britain
Funding Requested: $20,000
Project Abstract:
The New Britain Public Library recognizes that early reading success is directly related to maximum exposure to books and
read-aloud experiences provided for preschool children. Statistical evidence indicates clearly that many of New Britain's
preschoolers do not have sufficient opportunities for these emergent literacy activities. Therefore, the library proposes
to work in collaboration with New Britain Head Start, the Consolidated School District of New Britain's School Readiness Program,
the Boys and Girls Club Preschool, and the YWCA Preschool to provide increased and enhanced early literacy and reading readiness
activities for children enrolled at each of these agencies.
Programs for Individuals With Disabilities
1. Applicant: Wilton Library
Municipality: Wilton
Funding Requested: $7,509
Project Abstract:
This project will serve families of special needs children by establishing a Parent/Teacher Resource Center at Wilton Library
Association. The Center will not be a physical space, but rather a collection that includes materials for parents, educators,
and children. Two computers, an interactive whiteboard with adaptive technology and a specially trained Children's Services
staff will focus aid on parents of children with all sorts of special needs. Though parents are the primary target, educators
of these children and others are also encouraged to make use of the resources and to recommend other helpful resources. The
project complements the town Board of Education Special Services in serving the needs of this population.
Programs for Non-English Speaking Populations
1. Applicant: Danbury Public Library
Municipality: Danbury
Funding Requested: $19,574
Project Abstract:
Danbury Public Library will improve its services to a growing and increasingly diverse non-English speaking community by expanding
its English language conversational groups to two sessions weekly; increasing the number and variety of computer instructional
classes offered in Spanish and Portuguese; broadening the foreign language book collection to include Hindi fiction and nonfiction;
and enlarging and enriching the foreign film collection. The library would like to continue the productive partnership established
with WERACE (Western Connecticut Regional Adult Education) during the 2004-05 grant year to accomplish the projects outlined
in this application. It is anticipated that other partnering opportunities will arise and be welcomed during the implementation
of the proposed projects, as has been the case with the current grant.
2. Applicant: Farmington Library
Municipality: Farmington
Funding Requested: $20,000
Project Abstract:
The Farmington Library will purchase OCLC Foreign Language Sets for Russian, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean Languages that they
will share with the libraries of Avon, Canton, Farmington, and Simsbury. The collection will be divided among the four libraries
and rotated quarterly to offer a variety of browsing materials to individuals who read these languages. This core collection
of foreign language materials will be increased annually to meet community needs. Each library will offer a Russian, Japanese,
Korean, and Spanish film night to promote the new foreign language collection and attract potential library users from this
target population.
3. Applicant: Hartford Public Library
Municipality: Hartford
Funding Requested: $19,998
Project Abstract:
Hartford Public Library's The American Place (TAP) is a sustained program of services for Hartford's ethnically diverse and
immigrant populations. Since its inception in April 2000, TAP has formed a series of dynamic partnerships with immigrant service
providers and education providers of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL.) The current proposal, to create a bridge
between TAP and Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services, seeks to expand these relationships, and reach out to Hartford's
refugee populations. One of the key elements for successful refugee resettlement is language gain. The Library will develop
a core collection of carefully selected basic level ESOL material for populations with limited or no literacy skills in the
native language. The language development program will take into account the severe effects of political trauma experienced
by many refugees, and will include programming that will address the turmoil and isolation most often felt by this population.
Through active collaborative and outreach efforts, the targeted populations will connect to the Library. They will experience
the library as an important resources for life long learning for both themselves and their children, and a non-threatening
center to interact with each other and the community.
4. Applicant: Stamford High School
Municipality: Stamford
Funding Requested: $15,000
Project Abstract:
The Stamford High School Library Media Center will establish a program to increase the reading proficiency of English Language
Learners (ELL). They will collaborate with the English and bilingual departments to schedule students to visit the media
center on a regular basis to choose books for pleasure reading to be read outside of class but written about and discussed
in class. They will also encourage students to check out books in their native languages in an effort to increase and maintain
their proficiency in those languages. The Library will collaborate with Stamford's public library, the Ferguson, to get students
library cards and familiarize them with Ferguson's resources.
5. Applicant: The Ferguson Library
Municipality: Stamford
Funding Requested: $20,000
Project Abstract:
This project will develop innovative programming and create more in-depth collections of materials for Stamford's Spanish
and Russian-speaking immigrants. To this end, the Library will create a comfortable setting for the target groups using familiar
cultural materials that are educational as well as recreational. Staff will organize and plan both in-house and off site
programming for the target groups. These programs will include multilingual informational and cultural presentations, ESL
classes, and English conversation groups designed to introduce participants to everyday American life. In addition, the Library
will enlarge and enhance its core collections of both print and non-print materials to reflect the unique needs and interests
of Spanish and Russian speaking adults. By providing a supportive environment in which the target groups can learn while
enjoying social interaction, the staff hopes to encourage participants to become regular Library users.
6. Applicant: Stratford Library Association
Municipality: Stratford
Funding Requested: $20,000
Project Abstract:
Stratford has one of the state's most diverse populations of residents who do not speak English as their primary language.
This group comes from over twenty-three different language backgrounds. There is a growing population of all ages who, according
the 2000 Census, speak English "not well" or "not at all." This confirms the need for the library to provide materials and
services to families wishing to learn English. Since receiving an LSTA grant for $8,000 for fiscal year 2004-05, the Stratford
Library has been working closely with the Stratford Public Schools and Stratford Continuing Education to identify language
needs, and has created an Advisory Council comprised of members of the Stratford ESOL community and people who work with them.
The Advisory Council is planning a Family Learning Day on June 11, 2005, to celebrate the diversity of cultures and nationalities
in Stratford and to introduce the newly-established Learn English collections. A continuation and expansion of the library's
LSTA project will enable them to build on their current success. Additional funding will enable them to expand the Learn
English collections in both the size and diversity of language materials offered, especially in the Children's and Teen Departments,
and market materials and services in the manner most accessible to the target population. Grant money will allow the library
to obtain training for staff that serve the non-English speaking community. Training would emphasize direct communication
and multi-cultural program planning.
Programs for Older Adults
1. Applicant: Mansfield Public Library
Municipality: Mansfield
Funding Requested: $11,800
Project Abstract:
The Library will serve seniors with tailored library services and programs. The project will involve a targeted survey conducted
at the Town of Mansfield Senior Center, Juniper Hill Adult Housing Community, and The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Depository collections and delivery services will be developed based on the feedback gathered from the survey. An additional
goal is to study and respond to patron needs by beginning a delivery service of materials to the homebound elderly. The library
currently provides residents of Juniper Hill Adult Housing Community and Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation with
monthly library outreach programming that will be continued and enhanced based on results from planned surveys. This project
will partner with town agencies (Mansfield Senior Center, Mansfield Social Services), Juniper Hill Adult Housing Community,
Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and various private groups (Friend of the Mansfield Library, Meals on Wheels,
Visiting Nursing Association, Windham Hospital Food to Home Program, Dial-A-Ride, Community Companions and Homemakers, and
various houses of worship) in identifying those who can benefit from the added services.
2. Applicant: Russell Library
Municipality: Middletown
Funding Requested: $19,772
Project Abstract:
The Russell Library will build on the success of an existing grant project, Reach Out and Draw In the Elderly, whose primary
goal was to enrich the lives of the confined elderly. That program focused on delivering library services to home and care
facilities through an Elder Services Specialist and volunteers. Building on progress made, Russell Library will expand programming
to address the needs of "mobile" older adults, i.e., those age 65 and older who can visit the library. Programs will include
a Lunch and Learn series on topics identified as being important and of special interest to older adults. Based on the success
of book discussion programs held at senior facilities as part of Reach Out and Draw In the Elderly, staff will offer daytime
book discussions at the Library featuring titles that appeal to older adults. Staff will develop an intergenerational program,
ostensibly built on the concept of older patrons teaching their needlework, knitting, and crocheting skills to younger women.
However, the process will include cross-generational communication through the "Stitch and Bitch" model that encourages the
sharing of ideas and discussion of issues among women. Finally, Russell Library will expand its service to the confined elderly
to meet demand.
Adaptive Technology
1. Applicant: Hartford Public Library
Municipality: Hartford
Funding Requested: $8,585
Project Abstract:
Computer technology offers seemingly unlimited possibilities for learning. However, standard off-the-shelf equipment, software,
and furniture present electronic barriers (eBarriers) to people with disabilities. By researching the literature, using a
focus group, and implementing adaptive technology for a target group of adults with disabilities, the library will help customers
overcome these barriers. The Hartford Public Library hopes to enable people who have physical disabilities to participate
fully in the whole range of library services. To provide seamless service to all customers, including people with disabilities,
the Library will include passive and active adaptive technology. This includes Hypersonic Sound Technology, an array of pointing
devices and adaptive keyboards, software for one-handed typing, and adjustable height furniture. The target population of
adults with disabilities will be able to participate fully and independently in the many computer-training classes offered
by the library. The project will have a pre-program and post-program evaluation of the impact of the new adaptive technology.
2. Applicant: Russell Library
Municipality: Middletown
Funding Requested: $10,000
Project Abstract:
This project will respond to the information needs of Russell Library users who have mobility, visual, or hearing impairments
by adding a variety of adaptive technology services. The goal is to enable more independent use of the library for patrons
through specialized equipment. In using the library more independently, they will acquire a greater amount of confidence
and confidentiality in gaining information, communicating with friends and family, attending public programs, and using the
Internet for websites, vendors, and resource databases.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
