Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth: Final Report of a Study of IMLS Youth Programs, 1998-2003 Institute of Museum and Library Services 1800 M St. NW, 9th floor Washington, DC 20036 202-653-IMLS (4657) www.imls.gov IMLS TTY (for hearing-impaired individuals) 202-563-4699 IMLS will provide visually impaired or learning disabled individuals with an audio recording of this publication upon request. Printed December 2007 Prepared by Judy Koke, Project Director Lynn Dierking, Ph.D., Senior Researcher Institute for Learning Innovation Edgewater, MD Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Information not available at the time of publication. Table of Contents Dear Colleague.......................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 8 Background............................................................................................................................................... 8 Key Findings.............................................................................................................................................. 8 General Recommendations ...................................................................................................................10 Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 11 Section One: Relevant Literature .......................................................................................................... 13 Positive Youth Development ..................................................................................................................13 Effective Strategies in Youth Programs.................................................................................................14 Capacity Building................................................................................................................................14 Partnerships .......................................................................................................................................16 Youth-Driven Programming ...............................................................................................................17 Contribution........................................................................................................................................19 Section Two: The Survey......................................................................................................................... 22 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................22 Questionnaire Development..............................................................................................................22 Survey Implementation......................................................................................................................24 Case Study Criteria ............................................................................................................................28 Data Analysis Methods ......................................................................................................................29 Findings and Discussion ........................................................................................................................30 Background of Grantees....................................................................................................................30 Audiences Served ..............................................................................................................................32 Products Emerging from Projects......................................................................................................35 Program Need Identification .............................................................................................................36 Use of a Written Framework..............................................................................................................37 Program Elements That Contribute to PYD ......................................................................................37 Outcomes and Evaluation .................................................................................................................38 Program Evaluation............................................................................................................................42 Section Three: The Case Studies ........................................................................................................... 46 Case Study Selection Process................................................................................................................46 Case Study Instrument...........................................................................................................................50 Case Study Results.................................................................................................................................50 Youth Action Committee.........................................................................................................................50 Key Findings............................................................................................................................................50 Community Partnerships ...................................................................................................................51 Program Sustainability.......................................................................................................................52 Supporting and Communicating Outcomes......................................................................................53 Building Institutional Support............................................................................................................54 Staff Retention and Development ....................................................................................................55 Ongoing IMLS Funding.......................................................................................................................56 Including Youth in Design and Implementation ...............................................................................57 Potential Tools and Resources..........................................................................................................57 Section Four: Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................. 59 IMLS-Supported Projects in the Context of PYD....................................................................................59 IMLS Support for the Effort to Serve Youth...........................................................................................61 ii Appendices.............................................................................................................................................. 64 Appendix A: Questionnaire .....................................................................................................................64 Appendix B: Youth Action Committee ....................................................................................................72 Appendix C: Case Study Interview Guide...............................................................................................73 Appendix D: Case Studies ......................................................................................................................75 Albany Institute of History and Art—Albany, NY ................................................................................76 The Newark Museum—Newark, NJ ...................................................................................................79 The Maine Historical Society—Portland, ME.....................................................................................83 Oakland Museum of California—Oakland, CA...................................................................................88 Birmingham Civil Rights Institute—Birmingham, AL.........................................................................92 The Florida Aquarium—Tampa, FL.....................................................................................................96 North Suburban Library System—Wheeling, IL.............................................................................. 100 South Carolina State Library—Columbia, SC ................................................................................. 104 Athol Public Library—Athol, MA....................................................................................................... 108 Fort Ligonier Association—Ligonier, PA.......................................................................................... 112 Chilkoot Indian Association / Haines Borough Public Library—Haines, AK ................................. 115 Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block—Tucson, AZ................................................................ 119 East Iowa Community College— Davenport, IA.............................................................................