Is a program the best way to meet the expressed need or present information?:
Does the program fit the goals of the MLS?:
How & why does this program meet the goals of the MLS?:
This program fulfills the core value of “Library Members First” by focusing on the skills that are most important to helping our lower-income and less-tech-savvy members achieve personal and financial success.
This program also fulfills the core value of “Library Members First” by targeting needs that are especially pronounced in the Wright community.
The program fulfills the core value of “Integrity and Trust in Us and by Us” because it shows members they can trust library staff to assist them with sensitive personal needs and information.
The program fulfills the core value of “Respect for Members and Each Other” because computer and resume issues are the most common type of question Wright members ask staff. This shows members that MLS respects their most pressing questions and needs.
The program fulfills the core value of “Freedom to Learn” because it gives members the basic computer skills needed to search for online information about topics of personal interest.
Finally, this program fulfills our core value of "Commitment to Learning as Enjoyment" by providing "fun fellowship" that is focused on learning a new skill.
Why will this program be successful?:
This program will succeed because it addresses the most common questions and requests Wright staff members receive. This ensures that the program should have a strong, recurring attendance base.
Another reason this program will succeed is its flexibility. It can run for hours at a time whenever Wright has two staff members working. This allows members to attend on a schedule that suits their needs. The program is also flexible in terms of content, as it provides individualized assistance for whatever types of computer/job search needs members have.
This program will also succeed because of its simplicity. It does not require the purchase of any additional resources, nor does it require additional staffing, as Wright normally has two staff members working Saturdays. It requires minimal preparation time each month, since there is no set curriculum other than informational handouts.
Finally, this program will succeed because Adam Ferrari and several other DN staff members have extensive experience as instructors of computer- and job-related skills.
The program will differ from the everyday computer/job assistance staff provide in the following ways:
1) The program allows staff to give participants undivided attention for a set amount of time, providing uninterrupted, in-depth assistance. Normally, when a member asks a question about job/computer skills, staff do their best to answer but must balance their assistance with circulation duties and serving other members. This program will take place when two staff members are working at WR, so the programmer can give 100% attention to each participant. Making one-on-one appointments will further ensure that each participant receives the time and individual attention they need.
2) The program will be promoted so that members are encouraged to participate. Frequently, members are quite shy and reluctant to ask for help about basic computer or job skills. This program will be advertised at WR and in the MLS event calendar. Encouraging members to ask for help should draw additional participants who would be too embarrassed to ask for help in an everyday setting.
3) Staff will provide handouts and a rough lesson plan. While it is crucial that the program remains individualized, staff will prepare a clear, detailed handout on basic computer skills, along with a similar handout for resume-writing. These handouts will give each learning session a general, adaptable lesson plan to follow. Participants will then be able to use the handouts in the future as a reminder of key skills.
How will success be measured/determined?:
Success will be determined by attendance figures, skills improvement as observed by staff, and members' feedback. Since Wright is a very small library, the attendance goal should be a handful of participants per week (which is the most any programs at Wright tend to receive). In terms of skills improvement, staff will be able to see if the program is succeeding by noting whether members achieve greater ease and skill in using computers and writing resumes. The goal in terms of member feedback is that some members will report life- and job-related success when they return to the library after participating in the program.
