providing homework help in your library patty wong deputy director stockton-san joaquin county...
TRANSCRIPT
Providing Homework Help in Providing Homework Help in Your LibraryYour Library
Patty Wong
Deputy Director
Stockton-San Joaquin County
Public Library
An Infopeople Workshop
Workshop GoalsWorkshop Goals
Identify your resources– financial
– personnel– administrative
Create an effective plan to incorporate homework help with existing library services
Make a commitment to begin the process
Review HandoutsReview Handouts
Workshop AgendaPowerPoint PresentationAction Plan40 Assets (in English and Spanish)Potential PartnersPotential FundersHuman Resource Considerations
More HandoutsMore Handouts
Sample Activities for Homework Help: Low, Intermediate and High Levels
Evaluation Considerations Needs Checklist Offering Homework Help Services Webliography Bibliography Evaluation
AgendaAgenda
• Homework Services to Offer
• Examples of low, intermediate, and high-
cost programs
• Nuts and Bolts– staff– resources – funding
• Operations• Marketing• Evaluation
IntroductionsIntroductions
1. Who are you? Do you offer homework help now? What do you offer?
2. What do you want to get out of this workshop?
Ask Yourself These QuestionsAsk Yourself These Questions
Does your Library’s mission statement support offering homework help as a service?
Do you have the resources needed to make a change?
Is there demand in your community? Is there commitment from:
– management? – staff?
Why Should the Library Offer Why Should the Library Offer Homework Help?Homework Help?
The Mission of the Public Library– The Library’s role
• community resource• youth developer
The Need– community demand– peak customer use– public and organizational expectations
Shrinking Resources in the Schools
Youth DevelopmentYouth Development
How can Library staff make a difference in the lives of young
people?
Asset BuildingAsset Building
External Assets– library staff play an important role in fostering
external assets– Make asset building part of your Action Plan
Internal Assets– library can’t directly influence
40 developmental assets from
Search Institute, Inc.
Homework Help at the Library – Homework Help at the Library – Current ServicesCurrent Services
What kinds of service are you currently offering?
When and how often do you provide that service?
Fill Out Your Action Plan section on:
Your Vision What do you provide now?When would you provide it?
Costs and ImpactsCosts and Impacts
Get the most bang for your buck
Costs– low, intermediate, high
Impacts– low, intermediate, high
Low CostLow Cost
Minimal or no direct staffing
Self-directed
Initial need for some reallocation of resources
May be tied to existing service or program
Relationship with external organization for maximum impact
Low Cost ExamplesLow Cost Examples
Homework Help collection (self-help)Programs: Stockton-San Joaquin
County Public Library’s
– Homework Help packet– Senior Project packet
Collaboration ExamplesCollaboration Examples
Starting small:- local community/university/high
school volunteers or workstudy- collaboration with another
homework help agency (offering space, resources)
Relationship BuildingRelationship Building
California State Library sponsored– Tutor.com: free live homework assistance
available from referrals for all California students
– 24/7: free reference at www.qandcafe.comSan Joaquin County Office of Ed
– Math Tutoring
Intermediate Costs Intermediate Costs
Direct staff supportProvision of expertise and guidanceOngoing costsDevelopment of new and related
servicesStrong relationship with schools and
other partners
Intermediate Cost ExamplesIntermediate Cost Examples
Homework Resource Centers– dedicated materials– space– dedicated staffing
Web presence with linksRegularly scheduled programs
and events
Web-based Homework Web-based Homework Help SitesHelp Sites
High Cost – High ImpactHigh Cost – High Impact
Extensive staff involvement– paid and volunteer employees
Youth driven, youth development programs
Comprehensive, full-service, multi-faceted
Continual funding requirements
Well-developed relationship with schools and other partners
High Cost ExamplesHigh Cost Examples
Homework Centers – full youth programs with homework help, enrichment and recreation, offered on a regular basis in the Library
Homework Centers operating in the schools– Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library
Live Homework Help - full service programming for students, parents and teachers
California ModelsCalifornia Models
Tutor.com (Live Homework Help)
QandACafe.com and Other 24/7
Web-based and electronic resources
Full-service Homework Centers
Combinations of services
Action Plan
Fill in the section on:
Level Of Homework Help Service
Your VisionYour Vision
What kinds of services do you wish you could offer?
Questions to Keep in Mind Questions to Keep in Mind
What services would you like to include in your homework help plan?
Who are the gatekeepers to implement the process?
How do you introduce this program to the public? To staff?
Getting StartedGetting Started
Assess your strengths and needs
Develop an Action Plan
– include all existing and potential resources– include timelines, deadlines, roles and
responsibilities – commit to the process
Assess Your StrengthsAssess Your Strengths
Existing or Potential – People
• staff, volunteers, partners– Physical
• operations, partners– Financial
• funding streams, partners
People and ConnectionsPeople and Connections
Who are your partners?
Who are your allies?
Your competitors?
Action Plan
Fill in the section on:
People And Connections
Physical ResourcesPhysical Resources
What other resources do you have?– Equipment and materials– Space– Support & outside services– Publicity/marketing– Audience
Action Plan
Fill in the section on:
Inventory Of Physical Resources
Financial ResourcesFinancial Resources
Does your library provide fiscal support for homework help now?
What are the existing and potential funders for the program?
Funding ResourcesFunding Resources
Education:School DistrictsCounty Office of Education
Municipal and Government:City and County associated departmentsCalifornia State LibraryLSTA/IMLS
More Financial SupportMore Financial Support
Financial institutions– local and national foundations– grantmaking agencies
Library support– Friends of the Library– Library Foundation
Action Plan
Fill in the section on:
Financial Resources
Operations- Putting it All TogetherOperations- Putting it All Together
Staffing and roles– What staff do you have committed to the
program?– What do they do?
Action Plan
Fill out the Section on
Operations - Staffing
Operations - BudgetOperations - Budget
Budget– How many resources can you afford?– Is your budget fixed or flexible to change
with the needs of the program?– Who do you need to involve in securing
stable financial support?
Action Plan
Fill out the section on:
Operations – Budget
Operations - PrioritiesOperations - Priorities
What services/programs have a secondary priority?
Action Plan
Fill out the section on:
Operations - Priority
Operations Considerations - Operations Considerations - StructureStructure
Structure– Is the program open to everyone?– Is there a grade level preference?– Will you require parental permission to
participate? – How do you handle waiting lists?
Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Service PlanService Plan
Service Plan– Does the Library’s Mission and Vision
support the Homework Help program?– Include the Homework Help program in
any written documents concerning the Library’s Service Plan
Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Recruitment and TrainingRecruitment and Training
Review your staffing needsHow do you include Human Resources
in your plan to recruit, select, train, and retain?
Are there any current tools that you use to assist these efforts?
Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Forms and ReportingForms and Reporting
Document early and oftenShare your successReview the Library’s current forms in
useThink about:
– teacher contact– parent contact– analysis
Operations Considerations – Operations Considerations – Ancillary ServicesAncillary Services
Enrichment ActivitiesRecreation ActivitiesHealthy Snack
Action Plan
Fill in the section on:
Operations Considerations
What are your NEEDS?What are your NEEDS?
What are the missing
ingredients in your
organization to offering
homework help?
MarketingMarketing
Use existing communications and public relations channels
Publicize your success and needs– community– participants and their parents– schools– funders
Assign a point person to handle the media
Involve your staff at all levels
Evaluating Your Homework Evaluating Your Homework Help ProgramHelp Program
Continual review
SWOT
Budget integration
Staff buy in
Communication with community Be responsive to suggestions - and
stick with it
Leveraging Your ResourcesLeveraging Your Resources
How to turn an evaluation into
$500k worth of support
CommitmentCommitment
Keep the outcome in the forefront
Stick to the plan and your timelineInvolve the staff, the public and Library
management for maximum support
Next StepsNext Steps
• Planning• Set up your timeline• RIGHT NOW make your commitment
in writing• Take out the sheet “Offering Homework
Help Services – Immediate Action” and commit to getting started
Workshop EvaluationWorkshop Evaluation
Please fill out the Evaluation Form in your packet.
For More AssistanceFor More Assistance
Patty Wong
(209) 937-8364
(209) 952-2798