Description
The STEAM initiative introduces and exposes youth to the world of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Through expert guest speakers, hands-on teaching, experiments, and mobile classrooms children get an opportunity to appreciate these fields of endeavor. The US is ranked 25th in the world in math competencies and 17th in science. Studies show that as students age their proficiency in the sciences diminish.
Budget
$5,000
Category
Education, General/Other Library
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years) Adults
Short Term Success
- Increase in scientific literacy in county’s youth
- Supplementing the work of the school board in educating youth in the sciences by providing interactive opportunities and hands-on teaching that they presently cannot provide
- Preparing our students to be competitive in 21st century job market; Development of potential for students to acquire science-related internships in the region
Long Term Success
- Increase in scientific literacy in county’s youth
- Supplementing the work of the school board in educating youth in the sciences by providing interactive opportunities and hands-on teaching that they presently cannot provide
- Preparing our students to be competitive in 21st century job market; Development of potential for students to acquire science-related internships in the region
Program Success Monitoring
- Examination of evaluation forms,
- Testimonials from participants,
- Program attendance over time,
- Feedback from school board and participating experts.
Program Success Examples
A young girl, after attending a Mad Science workshop, tells her mother she is going to be a scientist when she grows up.
Description
Residents of all ages (including seniors) have the opportunity to use computers and other electronic devices at the library, and learn how to better use their own devices. The library provides basic to intermediate computer classes, convenient drop-in tech help tables (eReaders, Kindles, iPads, etc.), electronic social service assistance, access to free computer and free wifi, introductory classes on how to use the library’s online subscription databases, and tutorial videos on how to use the library’s catalog.
Budget
$20,000
Category
Education, General/Other Library
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years) Adults
Short Term Success
- Confidence instilled in new users of computers
- Ability for users to link to family, friends, and potential job opportunities
Long Term Success
- Proficiency in accessing social media, email, online resources
- Ability to create and edit word documents, transmit files, create presentations
- Development of employability and career skills for 21st century job market
- bridging the “digital divide” for those who have no access to computers at home
- Ability to fully utilize library’s eBook and online resources
- Ability of Spanish speakers to participate in computer self-improvement classes
Program Success Monitoring
- Examination of evaluation forms from classes,
- testimonials from participants,
- program attendance over time, students moving from basic to intermediate levels,
- increased usage of library’s online resources
Program Success Examples
Young Hispanic mother attended computer classes at branch and as a result gained the confidence and skill set to apply and secure employment that required computer skills.
An elderly patron who attends computer classes is now able to use email and communicate more with family online.
Residents of Freedom Village are more confident in downloading eBooks, after librarians visited their facility to teach a class.
Description
The Library presently offers two large scale events that ‘take over’ normal library operations and provide a unique experience for youth. Mana-Con, a comic convention, draws over 1000 local youth to participate in demos, a vendor fair, dojo exhibitions, dance, comic creation contests, food, a cosplay competition, fantasy costumes, graphic novel programs, related crafts and more. Family activities for children and for teens are available. Recycled Fashion Show challenges youth to create clothing from recycled scraps and send the creation down a real runway in front of expert judges.
Budget
$8,000
Category
Education, General/Other Library
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Children Only (5 - 14 years) Children and Youth (0 - 19 years)
Short Term Success
- Increase in attendance of programs for youth
- Respect for the library as a contemporary resource for fun and education.
- Encouragement of teens to find interest in library and its resources.
Long Term Success
- Equating the library with fun as well as education.
- Matching youth with other youth and mentors in atypical fields of interest.
- Preparing our youth to be creative and enjoy competitions.
- Development of potential students for fashion-related internships in the region.
Program Success Monitoring
- Examination of evaluation forms,
- testimonials from participants,
- programs’ attendance year to year
Program Success Examples
For 2 years in a row close to 1000 youths attended Mana-Con. There have been no security issues, and it is a day of fun and camaraderie.
A student artist with Asperger’s feels more confident about displaying and selling her artwork after having participated in Mana-Con for three years. She has expanded to participating in other comics conventions throughout the year.
Participants in the Recycled fashion show were offered internships in the costuming department of the local theater.
Description
Through partnerships with Goodwill Industries, Suncoast CareerSource, Boley Centers, and other community partners, the library offers a monthly program for job seekers. At this program, they are matched with mentors and training opportunities, and taught workshops to improve interview and resume writing skills. Participants are also taught how to conduct job searches using online resources and other tools. The library has begun coordinating Job Fairs to match employers with job seekers as well.
Budget
$3,000
Category
Education, General/Other Library
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Adults Unemployed, Underemployed, Dislocated
Short Term Success
- Increase in use of library’s career-related online resources,
- Exposure of job seekers to simple resume creation tools,
- Encouraging underserved populations (homeless, minorities, foreign language speakers) to use job search tools.
Long Term Success
- Employment success for participants,
- Improved interview and resume skills for participants,
- Preparing job seekers for 21st century job market,
- Drawing social service agencies in community together for common goal,
- Expansion of program to other branch locations
Program Success Monitoring
- Examination of program evaluation forms,
- testimonials from participants,
- program attendance over time,
- survey results from online sessions on long-term use computers at library
Program Success Examples
Young man with limited computer and writing skills created a resume in the library, went over it with a career counselor, and later secured employment in a local restaurant.
Two women met a representative of the Bridges to Careers skilled training program by attending a monthly job resources open house at the Central Library. They applied to the program, and both were accepted.
Description
Campaign is a 2 year literacy enhancement endeavor, with the goal of reaching our youngest readers and their families in all areas of the community so that they may obtain library cards as early as first grade. A focus on the harder to serve areas will be accomplished by bringing on a Lifelong Learner Coordinator to concentrate primarily on and deliver the goals of campaign to the community. This position if designed to complement and build on other community wide literacy efforts to increase reading and STREAM success beyond current services provided by the Library. This campaign aligns with the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading Imitative and supports 4 of their goals - healthy readers, parent engagement, school readiness and summer reading.
Budget
$278,000
Category
Youth Development, General/Other
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years) Families Other Economic Level
Short Term Success
The Lifelong Learning position will begin in August 2016 with the arrival of the new hire for this position. At this time, an outcomes analysis will begin reporting quarterly on such items as number of library cards issued, use of literacy kits, pop-up literacy/library kits, attendance, and other programs which will be developed based upon community needs as they are assessed.
Long Term Success
Literacy has always been at the core of what public libraries are about. Success will be measured through the expansion of contacts and connections with Library resources with hard to serve groups and schools. Success will be measured through the ability to double programming at each library location in Manatee County with a focus on serving youth not traditionally attending programs and creating access to a full array of Library resources. Success will be measured by providing parents and children with instructional programing by trained Library professionals on the use of educational devices and interactive kits.
Program Success Monitoring
Our outcome topics and analysis forms are in place and ready when the program begins in August 2016.
Program Success Examples
Program will begin in August 2016.