Non Traditional Library Resources Toolkit

Nicole Brown, Angele DeNeve, Tabitha Kirshey, and

Richard Morbeth

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Project Overview

The modern library is so much more than books or even e-books. Libraries across the country circulate non-traditional items from their Libraries of Things, provide access to equipment and training in their Makerspaces, hire social workers to help at-risk community members, and more. The process of deciding which services to introduce, getting staff on board, determining policy, and marketing these resources can seem daunting if you are starting from scratch. We will create a toolkit for library staff to help them select and implement non-traditional resources and services in their library, step-by-step.

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Goals/Outcomes

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• Help librarians who are interested in adding non-traditional collections or services to their libraries
• Inspire libraries to expand their services and collections in non-traditional ways
• Allow libraries to comparatively evaluate their non-traditional collections/services

Surveys:

Creation & Dispersion

Google Surveys

Benefits

• Familiar to layout to most
• Free to use
• Directly imports results into a spreadsheet
• Easily shareable through a link
• No adds on the survey
• Can be done anonymously if one chooses

Detractors/Learning Experiences

• File upload feature is requires a gmail account to fill out the survey.
• This is not plainly stated when you enable this feature on your survey

Dispersing

Survey 1

• Posted to listserv
• Fb Groups
• Internally at our job locations
• Great responses

Survey 2

• Reached out to people individually
• Slow & low response rate
• Hit issue very briefly
• Sent out second emails
• Used NYLA as a resource

Survey Results

Initial survey (122 responses) / Follow-up survey (20 responses)

Non-traditional library resource categories

Library of Things

Makerspace

Adult Education

Seed library

Ipads with augmentative/alternative communication apps

Education Resource Center/Homeschooling

Health services/Social Workers

Financial Literacy

Additional items mentioned in initial survey

Notaries

Repair stations

Community gardens

Food pantries

Book mobiles

Obstacles

Marketing and getting the word out to the community

Storage space (library of things/makerspaces)

Cost

Time it takes to organize and prepare

Staff training

Budget for replacement parts

Homeschooling wanted library space in addition to resources and collection

Underestimated time older adults need to learn technology vocabulary and practice

Most popular items

Museum passes

Hotspots

Portable dvd player

Metal detector

VR goggles

State Park passes

Chromebooks

Nintendo Switch

Ipads

Record player

American Girl Dolls

Snowshoes

Giant Connect Four

Telescope

Cornhole

Toniebox for kids

Creating a Wiki

The Wiki

• MediaWiki software
• Hosted on Dreamhost

https://librariesofthefuture.wiki/

Wiki Organization

Benefits

Drawbacks

• Dynamic
• Accessible
• Collaborative
• File Hosting
• Flexible Structure

• Tech skills / learning curve
• Cost

Practical Example

This part of our project deals with contents�

1. Team’s Wiki / Website (content)�

2. Non-Traditional Public Library Program� Adult Education program (description)

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Wiki / Website Contents�(links to programs at public libraries)

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1. Searched for Public Libraries with Non-Traditional programs (for each topic)

2. Scan the results for matches for Wiki Contents

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Part 2 - Non-traditional program

by Richard Morbeth�

Scheduled to be implemented

in September 2023

At Finkelstein Memorial Library (ERCSD)

Program Description�

• ERCSD Residents
• Mid-twenties or older
• 2^ND chance to earn their H.S. diploma
• Online-accredited school
• ½ tuition paid with grant dollars
• Library provides space and computers

Program Goal Part-1

Help with following problems:

1. Living in poverty
2. Did not graduate from high school
3. Cannot or did-not get a GED from BOCES:
1. Not qualified for BOCES GED program
2. Unable to pass the GED exam
4. Need assistance to pay for this program

Program Goal Part-2

• Help alleviate poverty in ERCSD, NY State, U.S. and the world

DiNapoli: Nearly 14% of New Yorkers Live in Poverty; Surpasses National Average for Eight Straight Years | Office of the New York State Comptroller

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Program Goal Part-3

Help Achieve the UN 17 Sustainable Goals

• Goal 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• Goal 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Program Plan for Admission – Part 1

ERCSD Applicants write a letter requesting admission:

1. Name, age, country of origin and curr. address
2. why they believe they qualify for this program
3. How will this program help them
4. Need assistance to pay for this program

Program Plan for Admission – part 2

Evaluation of each applicant’s letters will determine:

• Prospective participants’ aptitude to participate in the program
• Whether or not the applicant meets the demographics requirements for admission

Plan for Implementation Part 1 - Funding

• FML earned a grant from RCLS for 2023
• FML has requested additional grants from:
• NY State Senator Bill Weber (District 38)
• Assemblyman John W. McGowan (District 97)

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• FML will continue to apply for grants to fund this program

Plan for Implementation

Part 2 – Space and equipment

• The FML Technology Room will be used for participants (in this program) (when not in use for teaching computer classes)
• FML will take care of equipment upkeep

Questions?