Califa Group

THE WYOMING STATE LIBRARY RECEIVED THIS GRANT WHICH WAS TRANSFERRED TO CALIFA. CALIFA WILL PARTNER WITH WYOMING STATE LIBRARY, MISSOURI STATE LIBRARY, AND LIFETIME ARTS TO IMPLEMENT ADVANCING CREATIVE AGING THROUGH STATE LIBRARY LEADERSHIP, A THREE-YEAR, CAPACITY BUILDING CONTINUING EDUCATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO IMPROVE OLDER ADULT (55+) SERVICES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIANS, PILOT PROGRAMMING, AND NATIONAL DISSEMINATION. SUPPORTED BY A $646,000 IMLS/LB21 GRANT AND $646,978 IN COST SHARE, THE PROJECT BUILDS ON LIFETIME ARTS’ PIONEERING MODEL FOR DELIVERING STRUCTURED, RESEARCH-BASED ARTS EDUCATION IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. IT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE EFFICACY AND ADAPTABILITY OF THE MODEL TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE NATION AS CENTERS FOR POSITIVE AGING. BENEFICIARIES WILL INCLUDE STATE LIBRARY STAFF, PROGRAMMING LIBRARIANS NATIONWIDE, LIBRARY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND OLDER ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN LIBRARY SERVICES.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES ADVANCING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSIONS (PLACE).

THE CALIFA GROUP WILL ADDRESS A DATA GAP IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, IN WHICH LIBRARY WORKERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS OFTEN STRUGGLE TO FIND DATASETS THAT ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE REALITIES AND ASPIRATIONS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT INVOLVES CO-CREATING A TRAINING PROGRAM WITH RURAL LIBRARY WORKERS. THE TRAINING WILL DETAIL A PROCESS FOR BRINGING COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO DETERMINE GAPS IN EXISTING PUBLIC DATASETS, IDENTIFYING MISSING VOICES, AND DEVISING STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THESE GAPS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PROJECT, ONE OUTPUT WILL BE THE DELIVERY OF A FREE, ON-DEMAND ONLINE TRAINING COURSE THAT WILL EQUIP RURAL LIBRARY WORKERS WITH THE SKILLS AND TOOLS TO FACILITATE INCLUSIVE DATA PRACTICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE PRODUCTION, ANALYSIS, AND USE OF DATA TO ADDRESS LOCAL SOCIAL ISSUES.

CALIFA GROUP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES, WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO WELCOME AND SUPPORT THE LIFELONG LEARNING NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL ENHANCE AND SCALE NATIONALLY THE LIBRARY INNOVATION LAB, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PILOTED BY CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES IN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC LIBRARIES OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WITH LIBRARY STAFF FROM OVER 60 BRANCHES AND 50 JURISDICTIONS. PROJECT RESULTS WILL INCLUDE 1) FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM FRAMEWORK THAT EMPHASIZES ENGAGING IMMIGRANTS IN CO-DESIGN ACTIVITIES; 2) RECRUITING AND FIELD TESTING THE PROGRAM WITH A NATIONAL COHORT OF LIBRARIES IN 2025; 3) A PILOT PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER STATE HUMANITIES COUNCIL IN 2026; AND 4) PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF A DIY PROGRAM TOOLKIT TO FACILITATE REPLICATION BY LIBRARIES OR LIBRARY-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CALIFA GROUP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGALLIUM CONSULTING, LLC, AND NATION OF MAKERS, WILL DEVELOP AND LAUNCH A NEW NATIONAL COLLECTIVE OF LIBRARY MEMBERS TO SHARE RESOURCES AND LEARNINGS ABOUT HOW LIBRARY MAKERSPACES HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT THEIR SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING POST-PANDEMIC. THE PROJECT BUILDS ON MAKERS IN THE LIBRARY: A TOOLKIT FOR BUILDING A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MAKERSPACE. THE IDEA OF A COLLECTIVE WAS BORN TO SUPPORT LIBRARIES RECOVERING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUILDING ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE INITIAL PROJECT, PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION PRACTICES FOR THEIR STAFF AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, AND BUILDING LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS' CAPACITY AND SKILL SETS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RESEARCHING MODELS FOR THE COLLECTIVE, FORMING A CHARTER GROUP OF LIBRARIES TO CO-CREATE THE COLLECTIVE'S STRUCTURE AND SERVE AS LEADERS, EXPANDING THE COLLECTIVE, DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND CREATING AN ADDENDUM FOR THE EXISTING TOOLKIT THAT INCORPORATES LEARNINGS FROM COLLECTIVE MEMBERS AND NEW APPROACHES TO IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL PROGRAMMING. PROJECT OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE BEST PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPING, ASSESSING, AND SUSTAINING MAKER ACTIVITIES IN LIBRARIES FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE COLLECTIVE AS A MODEL FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SHARE AND ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE FOR THEMSELVES AND THE FIELD AT LARGE.

CALIFA GROUP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, WILL SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC EXPANSION OF LIBRARY MAKERS, A NATIONAL COMMUNITY OF LIBRARY MAKERSPACE PRACTITIONERS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING SUPPORT, RESOURCES, PROGRAMMING, AND TRAINING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED MAKERSPACE PROGRAMS. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE: 1) LISTEN AND GATHER INSIGHTS FROM THE FIELD TO ADDRESS SIX PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE FOR LIBRARIES WITH MAKERSPACES; 2) INITIATE A SUSTAINABLE CYCLE OF LEADERSHIP DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH; 3) IMPROVE WEBSITE FEATURES AND CONDUCT OUTREACH TO EXPAND ACCESS AND EXPOSURE FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITIES; AND 4) SYNTHESIZE LEARNINGS BEFORE DESIGNING AND DELIVERING A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES AND PUBLICATIONS ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE FOR LIBRARY MAKERSPACES. FINDINGS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO GENERATE BEST PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPING, ASSESSING, AND SUSTAINING MAKER ACTIVITIES IN MEMBER LIBRARIES AND BEYOND.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES FACE A PRESSING NEED TO EVALUATE THEIR OFFERINGS AND USE THE RESULTING EVIDENCE TO INFORM INTERNAL DECISION-MAKING. THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES (RIPL) HAS TRAINED NEARLY 1,370 LIBRARY STAFF NATIONWIDE ON INTRODUCTORY EVALUATION. THE CALIFA GROUP - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLORADO STATE LIBRARY, STATE LIBRARY OF NORTH CAROLINA, REBECCA TEASDALE & ASSOCIATES, LLC AND LH EVALUATION & TRAINING GROUP - WILL BUILD OFF RIPL?S SUCCESS BY DEVELOPING AND PILOTING A NINE-MONTH COHORT-BASED PEER LEARNING PROCESS TO FURTHER ADVANCE EVALUATION SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTITUDES. EACH COHORT WILL EVALUATE A LIBRARY PROGRAM OR SERVICE AND PRODUCE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT INTERNAL DECISION-MAKING. AT LEAST 30 PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS, REPRESENTING 15 PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THREE STATES, WILL COMPLETE THE COHORT EXPERIENCE. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PRODUCE A LIBRARY OF AT LEAST 20 COACHING VIDEOS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE, INFOPEOPLE PLATFORM, AND THE RIPL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE.

THE CALIFA GROUP WILL DEVELOP AND PROVIDE LIBRARIES WITH SECONDNET KITS, WIDE AREA WIRELESS NETWORKS USING PUBLIC SPECTRUM WI-FI AND TV WHITESPACE (TVWS) UNITS, EACH WITH BACK-UP POWER AND PORTABILITY, CREATING A REDUNDANT COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF DISASTER. THE SECONDNET PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH DIRECT LINKS BETWEEN LIBRARIES AND OTHER SECOND RESPONDERS AND DEVELOP AN OFF-THE-GRID CAPABILITY TO RUN PUBLIC-ACCESSIBLE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS EVEN WITHOUT THE INTERNET AND CREATE A NATIONAL STANDARD OF REQUIREMENTS THAT OPTIMIZE DISASTER RESPONSE CAPABILITY. THESE BROADBAND LIBRARY NETWORKS WILL BE IN DAILY USE, OUTSIDE TIMES OF DISASTER, AND EXPAND COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR SECOND RESPONDERS WHEN DISASTER OCCURS.

CALIFA GROUP WILL PREPARE PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY DEVELOPING TRAINING MODULES AND MICROLEARNING VIDEOS THAT ENABLE LIBRARY STAFF TO: 1) IDENTIFY KEY PARTNERS, PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE COVID-19 SUPPORT NETWORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES 2)STRATEGICALLY POSITION THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WITHIN THOSE NETWORKS 3) DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE LONG-STANDING SYSTEMIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL INEQUITIES HAVE PUT VULNERABLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING RACIAL ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS, AT INCREASED RISK OF GETTING SICK AND DYING FROM COVID-19, AND 4) ASSESS THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF THESE GROUPS IN ORDER TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.BUILDING ON OCLC?S ?PUBLIC LIBRARIES RESPOND TO THE OPIOID CRISIS WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES? IMLS GRANT, THE LIBRARIES AS SECOND RESPONDERS PROJECT WILL INCORPORATE OCLC?S FINDINGS AND STRATEGIES INTO ITS VIRTUAL TRAININGS IN ORDER TO ENABLE LIBRARIES TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY COVID-19.

LIBRARIANS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT A TWO-DAY FORUM AT WHICH PROFESSIONALS FROM ARCHIVES, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE (LIS) PROGRAMS, HBCUS, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS WILL EXPLORE THE CONTENT, COMPONENTS, AND CONSIDERATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESS OF A PROGRAM TO SATISFY THE NEED FOR A MORE DIVERSE LIS WORKFORCE, PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) POPULATIONS. FORUM PARTICIPANTS WILL ENGAGE IN MUTUAL LEARNING THROUGH KEYNOTE ADDRESSES, FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS, BRAINSTORMING, AND PRIORITIZATION ACTIVITIES. THEY WILL IDENTIFY SKILLS NEEDED FOR SUCCESS AND WILL DEVELOP A TOOLKIT, AN ONLINE INTERNSHIP MODEL, AND A DRAFT LIS AND SOFT SKILLS CURRICULA AND ASSESSMENT TOOL WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS WORK. BENEFICIARIES WILL INCLUDE CURRENT AND FUTURE ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS PROFESSIONALS AND SCHOLARS.

CALIFA GROUP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GIGABIT LIBRARIES NETWORK, WILL PRODUCE AND MAKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE A WEBINAR SERIES, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION NEEDS OF STATE LIBRARY AGENCIES. A PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE SERIES IS AN EXPLORATION OF EXISTING AND EMERGING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES (ICTS) THAT ALLOW LIBRARIES TO EXPAND DIGITAL ACCESS EQUITY AND TO INCREASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AGAINST CRISES THAT CAUSE INTERNET OUTAGES. ALL SESSIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING VIA GIGLIBRARIES.NET ON ITS LIBRARIES IN RESPONSE PAGE AND ON THE GLN YOUTUBE CHANNEL, @LIBRARIESINRESPONSE1379.