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HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-Library .ere O~:: SAk...t SI~L-{[-1lU'~f.J6\.u - Nl.~~'~Ui -~--------- ------ ':a I ~.v~"l \.,UUL-..:l:..-tP.. L~"" I .U~>I ----- - ---J--- - From: Steve' Whitney. City Librarian Subject: ::C'D. -AO"'N ... . OFF:! :.;,.;7 ifaH J J 11M 1/: 17; . "'...... Out State Travel: Inghram Branch Library Supervisor.-- Penn State University , fY'! --- Dept: LIBRARY Date: March 11, 1987 Synopsis of Previous Council action: .' None. " . , :;, _0" Recommewled motion: TO RATIFY APPROVAL of out state travel expenses for the Dorothy Inghram Branch Library Supervisor's trainiag course at the Institute For Adult Literacy at . Pennsyvania State University on March-46, B8jl, - L~S~'~d_ Contoct person: _ Steve Whitney,_ Cit:(_Lib!:.ar!:.a.Il:------------ Phone: n_ .~83:-.2080_ ,-- S . -'- h d' Ward' upportlng -Jata attac e ._~~__~___~_...____.________.,________ .. 6 FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: __ _.. _52~-, 76 ______ Source:. 105__::47~-:5}.310~~~ Ifc~C./::..-~ ..~. .. Finallce: Council r'otes: .____ - - --- ._~.._--_..._--_._._-_.- ---.. --'--'--- -^(~:"da IIQ~n No ) ~ --l1i :l 'C1c:r O~: SDJJ L~l~l~~JAH~O - [~~QUo;'r ~':OL'l COU,,jCll P.j'5'EO~<I STAFF REPORT The San Bernardino Pub1fc Library, the Friends Of The Dorothy Inghram Branch Library and the Provisional Accelerated Learning '(PAL) Center have submitted a grant application to the.U.S. Department Of ~ducation's Library Literacy Program to teach adults to read using computer assisted instructional course- ware developed by the Institute For The Study Of Adult Literacy at Pennsylvania State University. If funded, the project would qffe~ the first demonstration of this newly developed coursewar~ in any public library in.the United States, The Library has purchased a complete set of the courseware (approximately 24 floppy disks with the accompanying software) and the Frieads Of The San Bernar-. dino Public Library have purchased a complete microcomputer,workstation (Apple lIe microcomputer, monitor, disk drive, printer and expanded memory card) for the Dorothy Inghram Branch to begin staff training before Fall, 1987 when the project is anticipated to be up and running. . The courseware offers a number of features such as modification routines and management systems that a representative from San Bernardino needs to go through a training ~ourse conducted by ~ennsy1vania State University. Such a course was initial1y~projected in January, but was cancelled because of inclement weather, A second attempt was scheduled for March 16 with participants from California, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, but with insufficient lead time to meet the Mayor and Council agenda deadline, The request for out state travel expenses was approved by the Library Board Of ~ Trustees, and since it was a budgeted expenditure within the Library's travel ~. ~ account, concurrence was obtained from the City Administrator, An abstract of the grant application is attached for your information. S - " oJ' ;1 1 o OB S T R ACT 0 o APPLICANT: San Bernardino Public Library 555 West Sixth Street San Bernardino, CA 92410 PROJECT TITLE: MICRO READ: COMPUTER ASSISTED LITERACY PROJECT DIRECTOR: Mrs. Mary Chartier, Library Supervisor DOROTHY INGHRAM BRANCH LIBRARY 1505 West Highland Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92411 Phone: 714-887-4494 \ FUNDING LEVEL REQUESTED: $25,000 \ \ PROJECT DATES: Beginning October 1, 1987 and ending September 30, 1988 ',PROJECT SUMMARY: The San Bernardino Public Library, the Friends Of The Dorothy Inghram Branch Library and a community-based organization (Provisional Accelerated Learning Center) propose to teach adults to read using computer assisted instruc- tional courseware developed by the Institute For The Study Of Adult Literacy at Pennsylvania State University. THE PROJECT WILL OFFER THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION OF THE COURSEWARE IN A PUBLIC LIBRARY SETTING. The proposal will create a computer learning center (six work stations linked by a hard disk) in the Dorothy Inghram Branch Library serving primarily the Black community of San Bernardino. The project will also target Hispanic and Asian adults learning English as a second language. Approximately 45% of the city's 139,000 population are represented. DURING THE GRANT PERIOD IT IS PROPOSED A MINIMUM OF 320 ADULTS WILL BE RECRUITED AND TAUGHT TO READ. The San Bernardino Public Library has provided a pione~ring program in computer assisted instruction since 1981. It now offers free public access to approximately fifty Apple microcomputers in its five facilities. It has the first public library microcomputer center in the country featuring thirty workstations linked by hard disk. Over the past two years the Institute For The Study Of Adult Literacy has designed and field tested software compatible with the San Bernardino Public Library's micro- computers. This cours~ware uses a "whole word" .~pproach with some word building activities in teaching 1,000 high frequency and functional words to adult beginning readers. The courseware is interactive, branching and responding to the user's answers and needs. Adult literacy programs implemented in California's public libraries have stressed one-on-one tutoring which is timeconsuming and offering mixed results if at all measureable. The cost per pupil is comparatively high and the long term skill re- tention limited. THiS PROPOSAL OFFERS AN ALTKRNAT1VE APPROACH LOW IN COST WiTH EASILY MEASUREABLE RESULTS. Two year's field testing showed word recognition im- proved significantly and vocabulary retention after a tem-month period wlthuut intervention was an mMdng NINETY PERCENT. Objective evaluation is achieved by the courseware mangement lIyste. of prlltllsts, post tests and time meallurllment of activities attempted. ~ II rJ_