Nashville Public Library Foundation

NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY?S NASHVILLE AFTER ZONE ALLIANCE, IN COLLABORATION WITH METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE MAYOR?S OFFICE, ALIGNMENT NASHVILLE, AND MORE THAN 20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, WILL STRENGTHEN NASHVILLE?S CAPACITY TO HELP CHILDREN/YOUTH THRIVE THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF NASHVILLE?S VISION FOR HOLISTIC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF COMMUNITY-DEVELOPED TOOLS TO TRACK GROWTH TOWARD REALIZING THE VISION. THE PROJECT ALSO WILL WORK WITH NATIONAL COLLABORATORS, INCLUDING EVERY HOUR COUNTS, THE RILEY INSTITUTE AT FURMAN UNIVERSITY, AND THE URBAN LIBRARIES COUNCIL, TO SUPPORT THE CAPACITY OF OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO HELP CHILDREN/YOUTH THRIVE IN EDUCATION, WORK, AND LIFE BY DISSEMINATING RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES FOCUSED ON HOW TO CREATE COMMUNITY-DEVELOPED VISIONS FOR YOUTH, TRACK GROWTH TOWARD ACTUALIZING COMMUNITY-DEVELOPED VISIONS, AND INTEGRATE COMMUNITY-DEVELOPED VISIONS FOR THRIVING YOUTH. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PEER COACHING, YOUTH-LED INITIATIVES, INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FACILITATED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, AND ASSET MAPPING. THE PROJECT POSITIONS PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO PLAY A ROLE IN COMMUNITY VISIONING AND EQUIPS COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES THAT CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITY CHANGE EFFORTS CENTERED ON YOUTH THRIVING.

NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (LSDHH) PROGRAM WILL INCREASE CAPACITY FOR THE EXISTING, INTERACTIVE LSDHH WEBSITE BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO LIBRARY RESOURCES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. BECAUSE DEAF CHILDREN ARE GRADUATING AT A FOURTH GRADE READING LEVEL, ARE ABUSED AT A SHOCKING RATE, AND ARE UNEMPLOYED AT DISTURBING RATES, LSDHH'S WEBSITE WILL PROVIDE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO ADDRESS RELEVANT COMMUNITY NEEDS LIKE LITERACY AND EMPLOYMENT. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THE PLATFORM FOR STATES TO PROVIDE ACCESS AND BRING AWARENESS TO THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AS EXPERIENCED PROVIDERS OF INFORMAL EDUCATION, LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS HAVE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH. THE NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S NASHVILLE AFTER ZONE ALLIANCE (NAZA) INITIATIVE WILL CONVENE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP AN OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK FOR YOUTH IN INFORMAL EDUCATION SETTINGS. WITH KEY COLLABORATORS VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY'S PEABODY COLLEGE, EVERY HOUR COUNTS, AND BOSTON AFTER SCHOOL AND BEYOND, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK, ASSOCIATED MEASUREMENT AND TRACKING TOOLS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PROJECT'S LARGER EFFORT IS TO IMPROVE THE READINESS OF YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS TO DESIGN LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUTH ACQUIRE THE LIFE SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE. THE FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WILL BE ADAPTABLE, ENABLING SCALING TO REACH OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT THEY SEEK TO HELP YOUTH LEARN IN INFORMAL EDUCATION SETTINGS, PLACES WHERE YOUTH SPEND A MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME.

THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES ELIGIBLE GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WITH THE FUNDING AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND PARTICIPATION IN THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AMONG THOSE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS MOST IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY.

AUDIOVISUAL CONSERVATION CENTER AT THE NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY - PRESERVING RARE AND AT-RISK FILM