Leaders in Rebted Agencies for Discussion Of: (1) Identified Needs and Projects Evaluation Techniques
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 022 509 LI 000 972 SUMMARY (HARRIMAN, NEW CONFERENCE ON LIBRARY SERVICES FORTHE DISADVANTAGED, PROCEEDINGS YORK, DECEMBER 10-11, 1964). New York State Library, Albany. Pub Date [64] Note-26p. EDRS Price MF -$025 HC-$1.12 *LIBRARY Descriptors-CONFERENCE REPORTS, *CULTURALLYDISADVANTAGED, *LIBRARY PROGRAMS, SERVICES, *POVERTY PROGRAMS, PROGRAMCOORDINATION, *PUBLIC LIBRARIES Identifiers-Library Services and Construction Act,*New York An invitational conference washeld to bring togetherlibrary system staff members immediately concerned with projectsfinanced under the LibraryServices ant...: Construction Act, representativesfrom the New York StateEducation Department, and leaders in rebted agenciesfor discussion of: (1) identifiedneeds and projects designed to meet these needs,(2) cooperation and coordinationof projects, (3) evaluation techniques, and (4)publicity about the projects.This summary of the proceedings includes descriptions of projectsfor the disadvantaged inpublic library systems in the state ofNew York, along with critiquesand comments on these projects. Summaries of remarks by principalspeakers are also included, coveringthe subjects of library participation in the war onpoverty, characteristicsof the disadvantaged child, and service to the disadvantaged.(JB) 000972 SEP 2 3'68 di CONFERENCE ON LI BRARY SERVICES FOR THE DISADVANTAGED PROCEEDINGS SUMMARY 0% rj U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION (Z) THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE LIU PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT.POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. ARDEN HOUSE HARRIMAN, NEW YORK tcl. DECEMBER 10 AND 11, 1964 tc: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK/THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY/DIVISION OF LIBRARY EXTENSION/ALBANY, NEW YORK THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OFNEW YORK Regents of the University (with yearswhen terms expire) Edgar W. Couper, A.B., LL.D., L.H.D.,ChanceZZor, Binghamton, 1968 Thad L. Collum, C.E., Vice-Chancellor,Syracuse, 1967 Alexander J, Allan, Jr., LL.D., Litt.D., Troy,1978 Charles W. Millard, Jr., A.B., LL.D.,Buffalo, 1973 Everett J. Penny, B.C.S., D.C.S.,White Plains, 1970 Carl H. Pforzheimer, Jr., A.B., M.B.A.,D.C.S., Purchase, 1972 Edward M. M. Warburg, B.S., L.H.D., New York,1975 J. Carlton Corwith, B.S., Water Mill,1971 Joseph W. McGovern, A.B., LL.B., L.H.D., LL.D., NewYork, 1969 Joseph T. King, A.B., LL.B., Queens,1977 Joseph C. Indelicato, M.D., Brooklyn,1974 Mrs. Helen B. Power, A.B., Litt.D.,Rochester, 1976 Francis W. McGinley, B.S., LL.B., Glens Falls,1979 George D. Weinstein, LL.B., Hempstead,1966 Max J. Rubin, LL.B., L.H.D., New York,1980 President of the University and Commissioner ofEducation James E. Allen, Jr. Deputy Commissioner of Education Ewald B. Nyquist State Librarian and Assistant Commissionerfor Libraries S. Gilbert Prentiss Director, Division of Library Extension Jean L. Connor CONTENTS Page PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE 1 VISUALIZING THE PROBLEM 1 EXHIBITS 1 SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONS OF PROJECTS FOR THE DISADVANTAGED IN PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS - 2 Brooklyn - Community Coordinator Project, and Preschool Program--- 2 Buffalo and Erie 3 Nassau 3 New York City 3 Pioneer 4 Queens 5 PROJECTS PRESENTED BY SIX LIBRARY SYSTEMS 5 COMMENTS AND CRITIQUES 7 Theron A. Johnson, AdMinistratOr, Division of Intercultural Relations in Education, State Education Department 7 Mrs. Pauline Targ, Area'Director, New York State Division for Youth 8 Harold W. Tucker, Chief Librarian, Queens Borough Public Library 9 Dr. Kenneth B. Clark, Professor of Psychology, City College, New York City 9 Dr. Norman D. Kurland, DiPector, Center of Innovation iu Education, State Education Department 10 Harold S. Hacker, Direexr, Monroe County Library System 10 Mrs. Augusta Baker, Coordinator, Children's Services, The New York Public Library 11 Meredith Bloss, Librarian, Free Public Library, New Haven, Connecticut 11 Dr. John H. Niemeyer, President, Bank Street College of Education, New York City 12 Myra de H. Woodruff, Chief, Bureau of Child Development and Parent Education, State Education Department 13 SUMMARY OF REMARKS BY PRINCIPAL SPEAKERS 13 "Library Participation in the War on Poverty," Henry T. Drennan, Coordinator, Public Library Service, Library Services Branch, U.S. Office of Education 13 "Characteristics of the Disadvantaged Child," Dr. Edmund W. Gordon, Chairman, Educational Psychology and Guidance, Yeshiva University 14 "Service to the Disadvantaged- Powerhouse orPacifier?", Dr. Dan W. Dodson, Director, Center for Human Relations and Community Studies, Aw York University 15 PARTICIPANTS 20 PROCEEDINGS SUMMARY Conference on Library Services for the Disadvantaged Arden House, Harriman, December 10-11, 1964 PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE Invitational Conference to bring together library system staffmembers immediately concerned with projects financed under the LibraryServices and Construction Act, key people in the State Education Departmentand Library Extension Division, as well as some leaders in related agencies inorder to: - Discuss the variousidentified needs and description of projects designed to meet these needs - Discusspossible areas of cooperation and ways to coordinate the projects in an effort to avoid isolation and unnecessary duplication - Redefine and refinethe projects as needed - Incorporateevaluation techniques into the design ofeach project - Publicize projects atall levels and stimulate ctherlibrary systems to plan for what they might do in this area. VISUALIZING THE PROBLEM Film Showings: SUPERFLUOUS PEOPLE, a WCBS-TV Public Affairs Documen- tary, CRILDREN WITHOUT; HIGH WALL, andNEIGHBORHOOD STORY. EXHIBITS 1. Background Reading on the Poor and the Problems of Poverty 2. Program of book reading and discussion designed to changeattitudes regarding disadvantaged individuals - The Disadvantaged:A Program for Understanding This exhibit introduced a booklet outlining a suggestedreading- discussion program suitable for library-sponsorship incommunities. The aim would be to create understanding of socialproblems and of the culture of poverty for individuals involved in CommunityAction Programs and the War Against Poverty. This program may be obtained as a separate bywriting to: Margaret C. Hannigan, Library Extension Division, NewYork State Library, Albany, New York 12224. SUMMARY DESCRIPTUNSOF PROJECTS FOR THEDISADVANTAGED IN PUBLIC LIBRARYSYSTEMS Act Financed by GrantsUnder the Library Servicesand Construction and planning Profiles of systemprojects concerning various programs these profiles reflect for the disadvantaged weredistributed. Note: some modificationsand developments as ofMarch 1, 1965. There are four areasin BROOKLYN - "CommunityCoordinator Project." considerable number of Brooklyn which are similarin that they have a prevalent and earning power high school dropouts,cultural illiteracy is brought about by aninflux of im- is limited. These elements have been migrants and the bandingtogether of large numbersof particular ethnic groups such asNegroes and Puerto Ricans.The Bedford-Stuyvesant com- project of this munity, one of these areas, waschosen for the pilot experiment. established in March The unique position ofCommunity Coordinator was community for more of 1961 to supply theneed in the Bedford-Stuyvesant staff to operate it. than the mere physical presenceof a library and a full-time in the test A librarian was appointed tothis position to wotk continuing educa- community and to make theservices of the library a of tional force. His prime objectives wereto: create an awareness people who live library services on the part ofthe community and the library to community in it; promote the importanceof the role of the by encouraging living; generate an atmosphereof library acceptance greater use of it. the administra Through the activities ofthe Community Coordinator, residents aware of the tion of the library hasmade Bedford-Stuyvesant through the people access to educationwhich is theirs. It is apparent, adequate training and who have been reached inthis area, that with they can be moti- comprehension of the need to usethe tools available, from school to job,how vated and shown how tomake a smooth transition first hired and thelast fired. to get into a laborunion, how to be the burden on the community as They have been shownthe effects of being a that opposed to the satisfactionof self-dependence,and have learned social mobility. command of languageassists in job success and 1964, and will Through the present project,which began December 1, the CommunityCoordinator program isbeing ex- continue for 12 months, has been panded to serve all fourdisadvantaged areas.Hardy Franklin appointed Senior CommunityCoordinator. Community Coordinators are all of whom were ap- Major Owens, Thelma Gipson,and Bessie Bullock, staff. Library pointed from the BrooklynPublic Library professional the disadvantaged are materials identified asespecially useful among now being purchased. for disadvantaged BROOKLYN - Preschool Program. This yearlong project Its purpose is topresent preschool children beganDecember 1, 1964. day-care centers, pre- specially designed programsfor these children in The programs are kindergartens in public schools,and branch libraries. books and reading intended to orient and acquaintpreschool children with them in becoming for their own pleasure andenrichment, and to assist learning experience inschool. emotionally and sociallyprepared for formal