Check out DHPSNY!

dhpsny-logoIn late 2016, I was hired to work on an exciting, new project of the New York State Archives and New York State Library, titled Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services of New York (DHPSNY). Because the program offers a variety of training/services to collecting institutions including libraries, I thought I would share it here.

The following is a description from the DHPSNY website:

Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) is a statewide program that supports the vast network of non-government, unique library, and archival repositories that safeguard New York’s historical records. DHPSNY provides a range of free services to eligible cultural institutions throughout the state, including archives, libraries, historical societies, and museums which operate programs to preserve and make accessible records of enduring value.

Please take a moment to browse the site for information about upcoming workshops and webinars, as well as deadlines to apply for planning and assessment services. All are free of charge.

Registration for the Spring 2017 Workshop: Essential Policies and Procedures for Cultural Institutions is now open!

Ready to Read at NYLA

PrintPlease join us on November 5, 2016 at 9:30 AM at the New York Library Association Conference in Saratoga Springs for a special session on Ready to Read at New York Libraries!

Karen Balsen, Program Director, and I will be introducing this statewide early literacy initiative, and discussing progress to date and next steps. Come and learn how your public library can participate!

Click here for the program website.

Click here for more about the conference.

PLA’s Project Outcome

In preparation for the Outcome-Based Evaluation Workshop I am conducting next month, I’ve been researching the Public Library Association’s new, national evaluation initiative, Project Outcome. As this is really a unique program and one with great potential, I wanted to share it here.

project-outcome

Here’s more info from the Project Outcome website (shown above):

What is Project Outcome?

We help public libraries understand and share the true impact of their services and programs with simple surveys and an easy-to-use process to measure and analyze outcomes. Project Outcome is a free toolkit offering libraries access to training, data analytics, and standardized surveys that measure outcomes in seven key library service areas:

  • Civic/Community Engagement
  • Digital Literacy
  • Early Childhood Literacy
  • Economic Development
  • Education/Lifelong Learning
  • Job Skills
  • Summer Reading

Note that an account must be created to view the many resources put together by Project Outcome. There isn’t much available on the website unless you sign up and gain access. But it’s free! From there you can learn more about participating and collecting/analyzing evaluation data for your public library. Check it out!

Ready to Read at New York Libraries

PrintA new year = a new project! I am happy to report that I am now working on the New York State Library’s Ready to Read at New York Libraries program. If you are not familiar with this project, I encourage you to check it out (especially if you are a public librarian working with young children and families!).

Here’s a description from the Ready to Read website:

Ready to Read at New York Libraries is an initiative of the New York State Education Department designed to improve and expand the availability of high quality public library early learning services in local communities across the State. Through this initiative, families and caregivers will be provided with the knowledge needed to prepare their young children for their school years ahead.

The priority component of Ready to Read at New York Libraries through 2019 is the Early Childhood Public Library Staff Development Program, a train-the-trainer program that will strengthen library staff skills to ensure that families and caregivers with young children receive the highest quality services at all of New York’s 1,000 public library outlets.

Also, be sure to check out the program’s Facebook page!

And the terrific family resource, DayByDayNY, with daily songs, stories, and activities families can do with their young children to grow early literacy skills. I posted a screen shot below:

Screenshot

ILEAD USA Seed & Grow Videos

As part of ILEAD USA, teams were asked to answer specific questions about their projects while being videotaped (called Seed & Grow Videos). It’s a great way to learn more about the projects coming out of ILEAD here in NY, and a good follow up to the pecha kuchas that were created earlier this year.

These were taped (do we still say taped?) by each team either over the summer or in the fall.

The Red Hook Collaboratorium’s video is particularly creative!

Nice work, ILEADers!