LSTA Projects Serving Teens At-Risk: Indianhead

Adolescent Literacy Efforts in Indianhead

The Indianhead Federated Library System used a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in 2008 to address the needs of teens most at-risk of being illiterate or not completing high school. The System provided training and purchased new materials on learning disabilities, ADHD, and other adolescent literacy issues. The System also purchased Wii electronic gaming equipment, PlayStations, and a variety of board games that libraries can borrow to support their programming efforts for these hard to reach teens.

One system-wide change that resulted from the project was that the shared automation system, MORE, was adjusted so that libraries may opt to give struggling teens who have run up fines a fresh start by eliminating their fines and letting them check out materials again. The program is called the Teen Second Chance.

The project exceeded many of its objectives. Twenty-two libraries participated and each had a local partnering agency. The new materials purchased for the project circulated 2,698 times. The public library in Eau Claire hosted a visit by students in the middle school remedial reading program. Popular materials were strategically placed on the YA shelving. Many of the students said, "I didn't know they had that!" Several students left with armloads of books and manga.

One measure of the project was to increase teen programs by 50%, but the increase was actually 70%. Several libraries that had never offered any programming for teens had successful programs. Most of the programs reached teens who had never come to the library before. The grant indicated that at least 25% of the attendees at the teen programs would be teens who were from the targeted populations, but the final results indicated that 67% of the kids who attended the programs were teens at-risk. One of the libraries inadvertently arranged a programming night on the same evening as the high school homecoming. When they realized the conflict, the staff didn't expect many kids would come; however, the kids the library was targeting were the teens least likely to be attending homecoming, so the library's program was a huge success. The library intends to offer a "homecoming alternative" in the future.

The System set up a forum so participants could post information about their local projects. Only about 7 of the libraries posted regularly; however, the information was viewed 3,267 times. The System estimated that the programming kits and gaming equipment sets they had purchased would be used at least 30 times, but libraries borrowed them for 39 programs. The System plans to promote school-public library collaborations with the kits during the spring of 2009.

Ninety percent of the libraries indicated they intend to continue their programming efforts for teens. Seventy-five percent indicated they have continued their collaboration with their partnering agency, and several have developed additional partnerships as a result of the grant. Several libraries started Teen Advisory Groups as part of the project.

Many of the libraries partnered with their local middle and high schools; however, there were three rather unique collaborations. One involved a Polk County Library Service project that involved sharing elements of the Public Library Association/Association of Library Services for Children (PLA/ALSC) "Every Child Ready to Read" program with teen parents. Polk County collaborated with the St. Croix Family Resource Center's teen parent program.

The Barron Public Library worked with the Barron County Alternative High School to improve their resources, including multiple copies of some books for use in book discussion groups. One event involved borrowing the new Wii equipment from the System to allow the teens in the Alternative program to try out the new system at the end of a semester celebration.

The Frederic Public Library project involved a collaboration with the Northwest Passage Treatment Center. The Northwest program is a 90-day stress challenge program for adolescent girls. It is the only mental health program of its kind in the state of Wisconsin. The center's nickname in Frederick is PIII, so the girls refer to themselves as the "PIII Girls." The girls come from challenging home situations. Often the girls have chemical dependency problems and many have run away.

The project involved library staff meeting every two weeks with the PIII Girls for a book discussion. New books were assigned and distributed at each session. One of the books read was "Twilight." As a follow-up activity, the library arranged to take the girls and counselors to a private showing of the movie at the local theater. One of the counselors said that for many of the girls it was the first time anything special was ever set up just for them.

Quotes from the PIII Girls about the Book Discussion Group:
"Thank you for taking the time and money to make it possible for us to read."
"I am proud and glad to be a part of your book group."
"Thank you... for letting us read great books, and giving me a chance to like books.

Barron Public Library

Nancy Dhatt, Director of Barron Public Library, participated in a 2008 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, written by the Indianhead Federated Library System. Dhatt focused her outreach efforts on the Barron County Alternative High School. The school serves all of Barron County and is located in Rice Lake. There are approximately 20-25 students at any given time in the program.

Dhatt worked with the director of the Alternative High School to identify materials for use at the school. Among the items purchased were books that focused on kids in challenging situations, multiple copies of some titles for book discussions, and books on CD so teens who had trouble reading print could still enjoy the titles. Students completed a survey about their reading preferences, library use, and what they would most like for an event at their school.

The information in the survey was used to offer an electronic gaming event at the end of the program. Dhatt requested assistance from Adam Zens at the Turtle Lake Library to help with a gaming event at the Alternative High School. They borrowed Wii equipment from the Indianhead System, which had been purchased as part of the larger LSTA project. In addition to Wii equipment, the System also purchased several PlayStations and some board games.

Frederic Public Library

Chris Byerly, Director of the Frederic Public Library, participated in Indianhead Federated Library System's 2008 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, "Only Connect-Reaching Out to Youth at Risk." The library's partnering agency was the Northwest Passage Treatment Center for girls located in Frederick. The Northwest program is a 90-day stress challenge program for adolescent girls. It is the only mental health program of its kind in the state of Wisconsin. The center's nickname in Frederick is PIII, so the girls refer to themselves as the "PIII Girls." The professional staff delivers behavioral and mental health services to teens and their families. The girls come from challenging home situations. Most placements are court ordered. Often the girls have chemical dependency problems and many have run away. There are 12 girls in the program at one time and each month some of the girls leave as they complete the program and new teens arrive.

Part of the treatment involves having the girls do community service. The library had been one of the locations where the girls volunteered, but they also worked in nursing homes, housing for the elderly, with the local "cookie brigade" which makes and ships cookies for soldiers overseas, and for the adopt-a-highway program. However, it was the System grant that got the library interested in doing outreach at the Northwest Center.

Byerly found that many of the girls were avid readers. Titles were selected and the library used grant funding to purchase multiple copies of the books. The PIII Girls met every two weeks. New books are assigned and distributed at each session. The group read "Twilight" and as a follow-up activity, the library arranged to take the girls to a private showing of the movie at the local theater. One of the counselors said that for many of the girls it was the first time anything special was ever set up just for them. The girls appreciated the efforts of the library staff and theater manager.

As a follow up to the LSTA project, Byerly applied for and received an ALA Great Stories grant. Byerly cited the LSTA project in the Great Stories application. The library will use the funding to continue and build on the project. The library plans to continue the project using the resources of the two grants and may decide to expand the scope of the outreach services to the PIII Girls.

Polk County

Colleen Gifford, Director of the Polk County Library Service, collaborated with the St. Croix Family Resource Center based in Balsam Lake. The Resource Center has a Teen Parent Group. Gifford presented elements of the "Every Child Ready to Read" program, which was developed by the American Library Association. There were about 20 teen parents, both mothers and fathers. Some of the moms were pregnant, and some had their babies with them. The ages ranged from about 15-18. The teens received information about public library services, including story time schedules and a bibliography on parenting for new parents. They received extra credit toward their program if they visited a public library, checked any of the new grant items, and shared them with the group.

For questions about this information, contact Barbara A. Huntington (608) 267-5077

Last updated on 3/5/2009 1:22:38 PM