Adult Basic Skills Programs and Public Library Partnerships

Hello Colleagues,

Since LINCS doesn't have a public libraries CoP group I am posting this to several groups in which I think public libraries may be of interest.

On Saturday, in the Jamaica Plain branch of the Boston Public Library, in the large room next to where I was facilitating a Fundamentals of Public Speaking learning circle, there were tables with board games and people of all ages in a regular noon-to-5:00 social gaming extravaganza. After my learning circle, in the same room, was a small group of students from a local public exam school who, laptops out, were working on a school biology project. Before my learning circle, the same busy room was filled with people learning to speak Spanish.

If you thought public libraries were only about books, times have changed. If you were worried that public libraries have become obsolete, don't. More people in the U.S. go to their public libraries than go to movies.  Want more examples of how public libraries, often as strapped for funding as community-based adult basic skills programs, are on a fast track to serve community needs? Take a look at this article from the Boston Globe, "Prom dresses, cake pans, and power tools: Welcome to the new public library:" It's about how public libraries have evolved to meet community needs.

Public libraries' evolution also opens up new possibilities for adult basic skills programs to partner with them. Years ago when I tried to encourage the Boston Public Library to offer adult basic skills (including ESOL/ESL) classes in its branches, I ran into a library policy barrier that didn't allow them. Those times, fortunately, are long gone.

Perhaps your adult basic skills program or school has partnered with your public library to offer classes; English language conversation groups; or, more recently, English language, "App to Speed", digital literacy, or HSE prep learning circles. Has it? Perhaps your library has asked to partner with your program, or your program has asked to partner with the library. Has it? If so, tell us about your partnership. Perhaps your public library itself offers a funded program of adult literacy, adult ESOL/ESL, Adult HSE prep, or digital literacy classes that your students or adult basic skills learners in your community attend.

Maybe partnering with your public library is a new idea for you, or your program. If so, take a look at "Why Public Libraries and Adult Basic Education Programs Should  Advocate for and Partner with Each Other," a paper written by librarian and adult basic skills practitioner members of the Public Libraries and Adult Basic Skills Issues Group of the Open Door Collective. I am a member and former chair of this Issues Group, and a co-author of this paper, so I would be happy to answer questions about it.

Let's explore together -- adult basic skills practitioners, librarians, and those of us with a foot in both these worlds -- how adult basic skills programs, perhaps your own, have been partnering or might partner with public libraries to offer our communities new and better formal and non-formal learning.

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Program Management and Integrating Technology groups

Comments

In the last four years, I have been teaming up with the Milbridge Public Library (in Maine) to offer a couple of different services aimed at our adult community of learners. One offering has been three to four hour tabletop boardgaming sessions, typically once a week. The other offering has been a sort of community learning experiment in which the public comes in with questions about most anything and we explore options and answers together as a group. 

The community learning piece had been offered every Saturday from 9am to 11am. It was completely free and there was never a topic I had to turn down. Some community members wanted to explore how to lower their electric bill, some wanted to learn about different Internet options on their road, and some wanted to get support on academics (either enrolled in college already, working on college prep or high school equivalency). Career exploration, adult literacy and learning more about local resources were frequently topics people would inquire about. Technology questions were often brought to the group and at one time we even collaborated to learn when the appropriate time to salt a steak that is to be grilled, from a chemistry perspective, is. 

The community gaming experiences would involve me bringing in around a dozen or so modern board games that offer quite a different experience than the games people normally think of. The games offered are all board games that require much social interaction and although the rules and mechanics are often easy to learn, most of these games really challenge people to think and become flexible in thinking. During our game play, adults and youth all build up many of those soft skills we aspire adults learners to become proficient with. I have found that goal setting and adapting one's goals has been one of the most universal successes everyone experiences when playing these types of board games. 

Both programs had to adapt. While we were consistently getting two to three people per session, our ambitions were to offer these free services to more of the community. I researched where in my community I might find the most fertile grounds to approach.

For the community gaming program, I teamed up with an existing after school program that targeted junior high and high school aged students. Their services were mostly geared towards academic support, so they were eager to add in the fun, STEM element, I wanted to introduce and board game exploration was a big part of those offerings. This outreach attempt took a good six months to really get established but has resulted in enough teen engagement that I am now getting 3-5 families coming to our library gaming sessions at the library simply because their young teen family member excitedly pushed for the family to become involved based on the teen's after school experiences. 

I still struggle with the community learning program, but have just found a community partner that may offer a wonderful opportunity. Every Sunday afternoon, a local agency offers a program called Table of Plenty in which local organizations provide meals for free to the public. There are no requirements to partake in these events and often community members help each other with transportation to get to the weekly event. I have attended a few of these public meals and advertised the community learning services I offer at the public library. There has been much interest but almost no one would show  up. It turns out that transportation is the big issue as well as time of day/week. The Table of Plenty sponsors have suggested that organizations, like the efforts I volunteer to offer, are welcome to piggy-back on the Table of Plenty events. They have started soliciting resources that their patrons have been requesting with the hope of offering a One-Stop-Shop of community service all centered around the very real need for food availability. The plan is that after meal time, a sort of carnival of community resources are set up around the room and community members can simply go participate with whatever services they wish, all for free. 

Both of these expansion attempts came about because we saw the need for the library services to step out of the library building more often in order to help our services become more effective. Public book reading in the laundry mat, bringing tables full of Legos and books to a family literacy event hosted by another organization in the community, and working with other organizations to begin creating real collaborations that don't threaten the individual economic survival of each participating organization has all increased opportunities for our library efforts to expand and grow this year! 

I would love to hear about the successes others have specifically from the perspective of how those successes were nurtured and developed. Does your public library or it's volunteers head out into the community to lure the community to the library? Does your library simply move their services out and about in the community as needed? Has your library found ways  to stay put in the library but increase the number of community members benefiting from the many options available? I would love to hear more about this from around the country. 

Hello Librarians, Friends of libraries and others,

Ed asked,

  • Does your public library or it's volunteers head out into the community to lure the community to the library?
  • Does your library simply move their services out and about in the community as needed?
  • Has your library found ways  to stay put in the library but increase the number of community members benefiting from the many options available?

He said he would love to hear more about this from around the country. Can anyone offer Ed some examples?

I would add, would anyone care to reply to my questions about adult basic skills partnerships with public libraries?

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Program Management group

In Chester County, PA, on whose Board I serve, this is just a taste of its outreach and services as it meets community needs as a full partner:  -loans of sewing machines; free museum passes; monthly needlework sharing time; ESL conversation circles; special gaming nights for teens and young adults; musical performances of different genres; teaming with a local adult literacy program to provide space for tutoring along with materials as well as computer access; maker space with 3D printer; augmented and virtual reality with special programs for ages 13 and up; teaming with United Way and the Family Sustainability Center (other places known as CareerLink) to provide special workshops at their site; teaming with a local university to provide a class for adults on what the library has to offer; and food truck festival; notary services and many other co-sponsorship of events in the community  

 

 

Our public library here closed many years ago and now residents must travel anywhere from 8 to 13 miles to use a library.  However, the library that many travel to offer a wonderful array of services.  This library offers story hour for prekindergarten students, computer classes, options to assist with taxes and filling out of forms.  I have also learned that they offer resume writing as well as job application completion classes.  This particular library also has meeting rooms for individuals to meet privately with someone (counselor) or to hold meetings.  They also offer as many services as possible, computer time, wifi, tax forms, reading services and so much more.  I really miss our town library, but the building has been closed so I am stuck with my kindle.

Hi adult education colleagues,

I'd like to extend an invitation for our upcoming webinar "Invitation to Pilot a Technology-Enabled Practice that Supports Adults with Limited Literacy, Technology and/or English Skills" and piloting opportunity with you to share with your public library partners.  Thank you!  Karisa Tashjian, Director of Education, Providence Public Library, ktashjian@provlib.org

You are cordially invited to participate in a webinar on April 3, 1-2:15 EST to learn about how Providence Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and Los Angeles Public Library have partnered on a project, “Propagating Promising Practices”, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to implement technology-enabled practices to support adults with limited literacy, technology and/or English skills.  Learn how the three practices – learning circles, Learning Lounges, and mobile learning are helping public libraries to be effective and welcoming hubs for lifelong learning, digital inclusion, and economic empowerment. 

In this phase of the project, we will select and support six additional public libraries nationwide to pilot one of these practices to meet their communities’ needs. We will review the details of the project, the application process, timeline, training and supports available.  Applications are due on May 15, 2020. Panelists:
Sherry Lehane, Training Specialist, Providence Public Library
Andy Nash, Senior Project Advisor, World Education
Karisa Tashjian, Director of Education, Providence Public Library

To register:  https://jsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BgVD5-r7QYO64GMhQTiSaQ   Please feel free to share with your networks.    

ProLiteracy and the American Library Association Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services partnered to further efforts outlined in the National Library Literacy Action Agenda, a resource to help libraries implement processes for institutionalizing adult literacy initiatives. As part of this project we developed a free online course, Adult Literacy through Libraries (ALL): an Action Agenda Online Course, on ProLiteracy Education Network. The course was designed to help literacy providers, librarians, and library workers nationwide develop and advocate for accessible and innovative adult literacy services and resources. Click here to learn more including the download link for the Adult Literacy through Libraries (ALL): An Action Agenda guide and a recorded webinar.

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) in Colorado Springs provides Adult Basic Education services through its Adult Education department. Adult Education has existed at PPLD in some fashion since the 1970s and has evolved over the years to expand and meet community needs. All services at the library are provided at no cost to participants. The Adult Education department receives AEFLA funding to provide ESL classes, ABE classes (face to face and distance learning), and an option for an accredited high school diploma through Career Online High School. ESL and ABE classes are taught by paid instructors. There are also volunteer facilitated groups focused on improving conversational skills, writing skills, and preparing for U.S. citizenship. PPLD provides one-on-one literacy tutoring, too. ESL and ABE classes are strategically located at different library locations or partner organizations around Colorado Springs. One of PPLD's programs, AfterMath, is offered at four of its 15 physical locations and provides free math tutoring to all ages and math levels. 

The library provides computer classes to address digital literacy, one-on-one help tech help assistance, and drop in tech help. Individuals can make an appointment with a librarian for questions not covered in a class or too complex for a drop in help time. Patrons can also access Learn on Demand for interactive online training with Microsoft Office software and Lynda.com. Other databases specific to Adult Education include Adult Learning Center (live tutoring, skill building, test prep), HelpNow (live homework help), Testing & Education Reference Center (test prep for all educational levels), ResumeMaker, JobNow, and many others. PPLD also provides Mango Languages to card holders. 

PPLD has recently started providing workforce training programs to meet industry needs in El Paso County. Adult Education and Creative Services are working with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center and other community partners to create training programs that meet industry needs. The first identified program is the Food Industry Training program. This four-week program prepares individuals to enter employment as a line cook/prep cook. The third cohort is set to begin in April. Creative Services in PPLD includes Makerspaces (CNC machines, laser cutters, 3D printers, laser engraving and cutting, sewing equipment, etc.), recording studios, and various equipment available to the public to learn new skills. Future workforce training will incorporate Makerspace machinery and instruction to address needs in our community's manufacturing industry. 

PPLD's Young Adult Services extends to age 24. They also provide programming and assistance to young adults in need of education and training. They visit schools regularly and provide Career Conversations within the library to help young adults consider career pathways. Young Adult Services use volunteers throughout the year and provides training and guidance to ensure volunteers gain college and career readiness skills while volunteering. PPLD has well developed Subject Guides that are publicly available and provide information on a variety of topics ranging from fixing a car to finding a job. All librarians are regularly engaged in outreach to the community to promote library services and programs and build awareness of PPLD's commitment to seek, engage, and transform.