1. Enfield Public Library 1. East Hampton Public Library 2. Enfield Public Library 3. Gunn Memorial Library 4. West Hartford Public Library 5. Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library 1. Hartford Public Library Hall Memorial Library Funding: $10,000
Collaborations to Support Children’s Literacy
Municipality: Enfield
Funding: $13,981
Project Abstract:
Many children who are affiliated with Enfield Public Library’s collaborating agencies are from neighborhoods or families that can’t provide the support they need for academic and life success. These children need library materials, but they lack parental support or transportation to the library. This project seeks to serve youngsters (ages 0-6) and their parents through three components: the development of an early literacy collection, visits to community agencies to promote this collection to children who are not frequent library users, and a series of early literacy parenting workshops for the families affiliated with the four collaborating agencies. The program aims to increase children’s pre-reading skills and parents’ awareness of those skills. The collaborators are Enfield Family Resource Center, Enfield Educational Resource for Children, Enfield Head Start, and Enfield Day Care.
2. Hartford Public Library
Municipality: Hartford
Funding: $23,850
Project Abstract:
The Teen Access Collaborative project seeks to provide the underserved teens of Hartford with regular library services through materials and programs targeting specific populations with restricted access to the public library. The Hartford Public Library will collaborate with the city’s juvenile detention centers and alternative education programs to reach these at-risk teens and provide opportunities for improving literacy. Through delivery of materials on a regular schedule as well as through offering programs focusing on positive youth development to those groups able to make trips outside their facility, this project will ensure that these teens have access to the best services our library can provide to youth. Resources requested from this funding are library materials, supplies, contractual fees, and transportation for students.
3. Stratford Library Association
Municipality: Stratford
Funding: $25,000
Project Abstract:
Leading to Reading will promote literacy to preschool children by having librarians model to parents and caregivers how to read to children and engage them in activities that will promote emerging literacy skills and get them excited about learning to read. Part of the grant funds will go toward purchasing picture books and toys that will go into kits (Leading to Reading bags) on a variety of themes which can be checked out by patrons. They will also purchase several circulating book and audio sets (read-alongs) so children can hear a story being read aloud while looking at the words, and materials for Parents’ Collection promoting literacy. Staff from the Stratford Library Children’s Department will use these materials in their outreach training sessions to parents and caregivers. They will also distribute brochures from the Family Learning Outreach Project to parents, which can be redeemed for a free literacy packet containing a book, printouts of finger plays and activities, and other information. Programs for Older Adults
Municipality: East Hampton
Funding: $12,387
Project Abstract:
The East Hampton Public Library seeks to build a community of inclusion and the first phase of a longer-term effort to weave a web of services that grow with older adults as they move from one stage of life to the next. The first phase targets older adults who have fewer resources and reduces their isolation by recognizing them as part of, not separate from, our community as a whole. Programs and services will be provided onsite at two senior housing facilities; transportation to weekend cultural events at the library will also be provided. A series of afternoon programs for older adults will be developed and take advantage of transportation and their proximity to the East Hampton Senior Center.
Municipality: Enfield
Funding: $ 22,859
The Enfield Public Library does not currently offer homebound book delivery service to its patrons. They envision creating a program called Words on Wheels. During Enfield’s Long Range Plan process they learned that this service is something the community wants and needs the library to provide. The Enfield Public Library will bring the library to patrons who are physically unable to visit the library. They are asking for the grant to help offset the costs of fuel, advertising, postage, staffing and materials for the Words on Wheels program. They will develop a special selection of materials for the program, purchasing materials in large print paperback, DVD, and audio books. They will also use materials from their regular collection. They are gearing their program to older adults but any patron what can not physically come to the library is eligible to participate in the program.
Municipality: Washington
Funding: $5,397
Project Abstract:
The Gunn Your Mind! project will embrace the needs of a growing segment of their library population –older adults. While isolation and loneliness are often common conditions of old age, seniors fall into two groups - those who are homebound and those who are mobile. They plan to serve the needs of both sectors of this group. They will alleviate the isolation of homebound seniors by exposing them to the world of ideas and literature through downloadable books on MP3 players distributed by volunteers. The library will purchase a Recorded Books’ downloadable books subscription. “Elder-friendly” MP3 players with ease of use will be purchased and loaded with books for elderly shut-ins. Volunteers and pages in the library will be trained to download the books and work the devices. They will work with the Washington Senior Center volunteers and the New Milford Visiting Nurses Association to publicize and arrange for delivery of these devices to homebound seniors. The project also will offer the mobile segment of this group a banquet of cultural events by means of a film/lecture/discussion series, encouraging them to expand their horizons, connect with their neighbors and articulate their ideas.
Municipality: West Hartford
Funding: $ 12,515
Project Abstract:
Older adults will gain and strengthen their computer literacy skills and increase their opportunities to work comfortably and independently on the computer so that they can more easily pursue their educational, social and recreational needs. This project aims to serve older adults in the West Hartford community by providing customized, one-on-one technology tutoring in the areas of basic computer use, word processing skills and Internet use. Patrons ages 60 and older will be the primary target of this program, although other patrons needing this service will be welcome.
Municipality: Old Lyme
Funding Requested: $ 18,779
Project Abstract:
The Old Lyme PGN Library is seeking funding to enhance services to the homebound by restructuring the Books by Mail service to a personalized home delivery service. The purpose of the program is to help older adults access library materials and services by establishing a proven delivery mechanism that meets their recreational and personal information needs, and by doing so improves their quality of life and reduces their isolation from the community. The service would be coordinated with local social service agencies to identify and communicate with potential users. Staffed by drivers and volunteers who are sensitive to the needs of older adults, the library will seek to create a customized, hands-on approach to individuals who have suffered a loss of mobility and independence due to a variety of circumstances. Programs for Children and Young Adults in Poverty
Municipality: Hartford
Funding: $24,760
Project Abstract:
The Hartford Public Library proposes Community Matters, a program to engage Hartford youth in positive experiences and learning around the assets of their city. Approximately 180 students in the 5th to 8th grades will work in teams to identify sites of interest, research these through the Library’s collection, visit them, and record their impressions through journals, maps, digital photography, and audio recordings. They will then use the technology resources of the Central Library’s state-of-the-art Learning Lab to refine those impressions and post them to a blog. Participants are expected to improve their perception of their city, their perception of themselves as competent team members, their technology skills, and their communication skills. All of these are highly important to youth who face the very negative depictions of themselves and their community in the news media, restricted access to technology arising from poverty, and academic challenges. Funding is requested for transportation of participants to the sites of interest, and the Central Library’s Learning Lab; entrance fees; digital cameras, audio recorders, and associated supplies; incentives for participation; and collection development to support project activities.Long Range Planning
Mansfield Public Library Funding: $5,825
Middlebury Public Library Funding: $10,000
Cyrenius H. Booth Library Funding: $9,725
Oxford Public Library Funding: $10,000
West Hartford Public Library Funding: $10,000