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LIB WA SA f \L1BRARY\SHARE\ST AFRPT CD
Council MeetIng May 12, 1998 Santa MonIca, Callforma
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation for Approval for the Santa Momca Public Library to
Apply for Library Services and Technology Act Funding for the Project,
I nformatlon Navigators
I ntrod u ctlon
ThiS report descnbes a Santa Monica Public Library grant proposal called Information
Navigators and recommends approval for staff to proceed With application to the
California State library for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding of
approximately $150,000 for the project
Backaround
Information Navigators IS a proposal for training high school students to proVide Library
clientele With basic-level assistance uSing electroniC InformatIon resources ThiS project
IS a work objective of the City's Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Objective
and IS part of the CIty's TelecommunicatIOns Master Plan and universal access policy
The proposal meets goals establIshed by the CalifornIa State LIbrary, which administers
federal LSTA funds, for equity of information access and services targeted to youth
Views expressed by commumty members and leaders dunng the Library Master Plan,
LIbrary Youth ServIces StrategIc Plan, and TelecommunIcations Master Plan also
helped shape the grant concept Significant findings from these planning processes are
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that (1) the Library's role IS to promote literacy, Includmg information literacy usmg
technology, (2) the Library should provide equal access to matenals and Information,
especIally informatIon technology, and (3) whIle qualIty programs eXIst In Santa MonIca
for younger children, more programs are needed for teens Another prominent concern
IS the dlspanty between the computer "haves" and the "have nots " Many reSidents also
said that they look to the Library for availability of public access computers, and
orientation In theIr use, In helping to close the technology gap that eXists In thiS and
other commumtles
DISCUSSion
Information NaVigators IS a collaborative project led by the Library InvolVing pnmanly
Information Systems, Personnel, and Santa MOnica Hrgh School Dunng Its pilot phase,
the project will proVide structured technology tramlng for approximately 27 high school
students who Will be placed m library branches as paid mterns The Interns Will assist
the publIc In uSIng electronIc mformatlon resources avaIlable at the LIbrary, Includmg
the onhne catalog, the Internet, a CD-ROM network with general Interest and subject
programs. and onhne Indexes and full-text resources
Santa Monica High School staff Will help Identrfy prospective partiCipants SelectIon
crlterra Include students who are "at risk," those who do not own personal computers,
and students likely to benefIt from a program that has potentIal for lInkage to lobs In
technology, library, and other knowledge-based fields The City's Information Systems
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DIvIsion will give the students technical training In understanding computer components
and peripherals, networks, configurations, and troubleshootmg The Library's tramlng
portion will focus on developing Information literacy skills, effective search strategies,
the use of specific resources. and coaching m mterpersonal skills that the students will
need to help an IntergeneratlOnal group of Library users
The Library will pilot the Information Navigators project from October 1, 1998, to
September 30, 1999 DUring thiS period, a consultant from the Graduate Department of
Library and Information SCience at the University of California, Los Angeles Will collect
and analyze data on how teens use and disseminate technology-derived Information A
key component IS to develop a manual for the Information NavIgators program, uSIng
the research findings and the practical expenence gamed as the project IS earned out,
that may serve as a model for other JUrisdIctions If the pIlot project IS successful In
meetmg the needs of library users and It IS decIded to pursue second-year funding,
funds from the State Library Will be requested or the program Will be absorbed mto the
LIbrary's ongoing budget Options for the second year mclude expanding the student
base to Santa Monica Community College and developing public-private partnerships to
provide mformatlon navigators at additional City sites (such as parks and senior
centers), local bUSinesses, and nonprofit organizations
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BudaetlFlnanclallmoact
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The prelIminary LSTA fundIng requestfor Informatfon Navigators IS $148,865 Hiring a
Project Director and a PrOject Assistant to Implement the project and purchasing laptop
computers for the students' use form the bulk of the grant request An additional
$145.980 IS the preliminary estimate of In-kmd contnbutlon provided by the CIty's
collaborating departments and other project partners such as the HIgh School, the
School District. and UCLA Examples of In-kind support Include use of the Mam
Library's Computer Tralnmg Room No matchIng funds are required for thiS grant The
Library IS requesting $19,980 In additional funding from the City's General Fund (Library
account 01-410-615-00000-1150-00000) for stipends to the students mvolved In the
pilot program Other In-kmd contributions are being made by City departments out of
their eXisting Maintenance of Effort budgets
Recommendation
The Library has filed a letter of Intent (Attachment 1 ) for thiS grant proposal with the
California State Library Staff respectfully recommends that upon appropriate
notification from the State, staff be authorized to contmue the grant application process
for LSTA funding of the pilot proJect, Information Navigators It IS also recommended
that If the City succeeds In the application process that the City Manager be authorized
to negotiate and execute all necessary grant documents and City Council appropriate
$19,980 for the student Information navigators
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Prepared by Winona Allard
City Librarian
Attachment 1 library ServIces and Technology Act Proposal (LSTA 5), Project
title Information NaVIgators
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. California StAte Library
Library Services and Technology Act
Ftscal Year 1998/99
PROPOSAL (LSTA 5)
Submit in sixteen (16) copies by 4:30 p.m., Friday, January 30, 1998, co Aan: Jay Cunningh:lm.
Library Development ServIces, California State Library, P.O. Box 942837 (900 N Stree~ Rm. SOO).
Sacramento. CA 94237-o00l.
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L Project title: Information NaviQators
2. Appli("~nr jurisdiction: City of Santa Monica. Santa Monica Public library.
3. Address: 1343 Sixth Street, Santa Manica, California ZIP +4: 90401-1603
4. Applicant contact: Wini Allard, City librarian Phone: 310/ 458-8607
PAJ{: 3101 394-8951 E-mail: wal1ard@oen.ci.santa-monica.
ca.us
S. Type of Library: System , Public X , Academic , Special
School .
6. Population: Client 87 ,349 tutors/re~is~erec! 1 fbrarYToral 90,300 city residents (1996 est.
. cl1entele Calif. Oept. of flnance. Pap.
7. ParticipantS : Research Unit)
Clty of Santa Monica City Manager's Offlce
City of Santa Manica Informatlon Systems Division
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Sc~ool Distr;c~
Santa Mon1ca High School
Unlversity of California, Los Angeles. Gracuate School of Library and
8. LST A amount requested: 5t48,865 Information Science
III
S pace below for Advisory Council use
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Project Title. InformatIon NaVIgators
JunsdlctIon ~anta Monica Public Library
9 Project Summary mclude needs assessment process, needs. descnption of cl1ent/ commumty
mvolvement ill project development, outline of plan, and long-term prospects for project continuation
and/or contmued benefits
Santa Moruca Pubbc LIbrary proposes Infonnation NaVigators as a puot program for traming
high school students to proVIde LIbrary clientele With basic-level assistance usmg electroruc
resources
Needs assessment processes In 1996.97, the LIbrary undertook needs assessments as part of
its Master Plan and Youth Semces Strategic Plan Library consultants for the Master Plan prepared a
comprehensive needs assessment as a programmatic basIS for a future Main LIbrary expansion The
LIbrary is one of the first to develop a Youth Strategic Plan.. using the PLA process under the
guidance of Dr Virginia Walter of UCLA's Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Both processes used focus groups, mc1uding meetings with children, teens, parents, and teachers The
Youth Strategic Plan also involved more than two dozen interviews with community key Informants
whose views helped shape the Youth Services' nussion statement and strategic directions Other
evaluative measures include Annual Library Customer Surveys, the Library Technology Report
(1993), and the Library Strategic Plan (1991)
Evidence of need: Sigruticant findings that emerged from these recent needs assessments are'
(1) the perception that the Library's role IS to promote literacy, including technology literacy, (2) the
view that the Library should provide equal access to matenals and information, especially to
informatIon technology; and (3) recognition that while quality programs eXist in Santa Monica for
younger children, more programs are needed for teens. Of great concern to many educators
interviewed for the Youth Strategic Plan was the disparity between the <<haves" and the "have nots"
with respect to computer ownership Focus group meetings With business people, seniors, and
volunteers also articulated ttus concern Employers, workers, retirees, and students alike look to the
Library for availability of public access computers, and onentation in thelT use, in helping to close the
technology gap that exists in Santa Monica
DescriptIon of client/community mvolvement in project development. Information NaVIgators
is a Santa Monica Public LIbrary-based program During the pIlot phase, its clnef collaborative
partners are the Santa Mornca-Malibu Unified School District, Santa Mornca High School., the City's
Information Systems DiVISIOn, and UCLA's Graduate School of Library and Information Science As
several community participants in the Master Plan and Youth Services Strategic Plan provided much
of the conceptual basis for the Information Navigators project, these contacts will continue to be
consulted as the program develops. As It moves from conceptual to unplementation phase,
commumty advisory groups will be formed and will meet periodically during the project
Outline of plan In developing the Infonnation Navigators proJect, LIbrary staff will
collaborate With Santa Monica High School staff to identIfy students, ages fifteen to seventeen, to
participate in the program Recruitment will seek a diverse group including at-risk youth and targeting
students who do not have computers at home
The training component will take a two-prong approach The City's Information Systems
DiviSIon wtll proVide onentation for the students in the more technical aspects of computer hardware
and software, periphera1s~ and networks The LIbrary will then tram the students m the use of
e1ectromc mfonnatIon resources at the Library These include the online catalog, the Internet, a CD-
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Project Title. Information NaVlgators
Jurisdiction Santa Mornca Public Library
9 Project Summary continued Complete in space provided, do not attach additional sheets
ROM network with general interest and subject programs, and online mdexes and full-text resources
The focus of training at the Library will be mstruCtlon in infonnation literacy and online skills,
effectIve search strategies, and evaluating electronic informanon
Usmg grant funds, the Library proposes to hire a full-time Project Dtrector and a Project
Assistant to liaison WIth Santa Mornca High School and other collaborative partners, develop and
conduct the computer training, supervise and place the students as Library navigators, and promote
the program The grant also proposes to contract for consultanon senrices for collectmg and
analyzmg data on how teens use and dissemmate technologically-derived informanon A key
component of the project is to develop a manual for the teen mformation naVigators, using the
research findings and the praCtlca1 experience gained as the program is unplemented, that may serve
as a model for other library junsdictions
As m-kind support, the program will use the Main Library's Computer Training Room, which
is equIpped with one instructor and nine tramee computers and a computer projection system Three
groups of nine students vvill go through the year-long pilot program The grant will also fund the
purchase often network-accessible laptop computers, one for the Project Director and nine available
for use outside the Library by the students The students will commit to the prOject between five to
ten hours per week for approximately sIXteen weeks During the tramee portion, the students will
receive school credit Once they become informatlon navigators, the Library will provide a stipend.
The student navigators will be available at the Main and three branch libraries to provide basic
support to LIbrary clientele using electronic resources Depending on branch setting, they may be
floaters or positioned at a service pomt Under the Project Director's supervision, the students will
also work under the guidance of Reference, Youth Services and Branch librarians to ensure that
proper referral protocol is fonowed to the benefit of Library users Information naVIgators will serve
to enhance, and not to replace the professional statr: as intermedianes between information-based
technology and client needs
Long-term prospects for project continuation and/or continued benefits The program is
proposed as a pdot project taking place at the Library, October 1. 1998 to September 30, 1999
Although designed to train teens as information navigators, the program will benefit an
intergenerational group of Library users The proposed research component, focusing on how teens
approach, use, and dissemmate technology-based mformation, is investigatory work called for by The
Children's Partnersh1p, a ch1Jd research and advocacy orgamzatio1l, in its 1997 publication, California
Youth: TheIr Access to Computers & Technologzcal Reatimess An evaluative portion, includIng pre-
and post-testing oftechnoiogy literacy skills, participant interviews, and user surveys, will also be
built into the pilot program Presentation of the pilot project and research model will be proposed as a
workshop topic for the Califorma Library AssociatIon conference tn November of 1999
InfOlll1atlOn Navigators will be continued beyond the pilot phase through a combination of
grant requests and/or either direct or in-land funding by public-pnvate partnershtps Recruitment will
be expanded to include Santa Monica Community College students focusing again on those without
ready access to computers at home Library-trained teen mformation navigators will be sent out to
provide assistance in local schools, parks, senior centers, service clubs, nonprofit orgamzatlons and
businesses Through the Infonnation Navigators program,. the Library will assume a leadersmp as well
as a collaborative role in promoting access to mformatlon-based technology and the development of
technology literacy skills among all groups of users Furthennore, the program will serve as a model
that may be duplicated in other jurisdictIons in California.
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Project T..1e: ,Information Naviaators
I~iction: Santa Monica Public Library
10. Budget Sllmmary: LSTA Other funds In-kind Total
(1) (2) (3) (4)
a. Salaries & Benefits 't; 97 Rn5 0 S 81,480 $179,345
b. Ubrary Macerl;ils 2,500 0 8 ,000 10.500
c. Operation 13,500 0 12,500 ,~ nnf1
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d. Equipment 35 000 0 44.000 79.000
e. Indirect Cost 0 0 0 0
f. Total ~14s:t l::t,c:;~ 0 $145 980 $294,845
II. Signature~ ~. .#- ~ Date; 1'-~7-?Y
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