(JKPL) — In support of the Library Services & Technology Act or LSTA 5-Year Goal II: 21st Century Skills, team Joeten-Kiyu Public Library under the leadership of Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi met with federal grantors from the Institute of Museum and Library Services — Senior Program Officer Madison Bolls and Deputy Director of the Office of Library Services Cynthia Landrum — and Pacific region affiliates for the Library Services Grants to the Pacific Region Training Workshop biennial meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 9 to 11, 2022.
On Monday, May 9, 2022, Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi along with Technical Services Librarian Beth Demapan and Library Assistant Caitlyn Crisostomo presented on the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library-CNMI State Library 5-Year Strategic Goals (2018-2022), Programs, Services, Highlights, and Evaluation of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Tinian Public Library, Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Library (Rota), Bookmobile/Technology Mobile Express, and the Fernando M. Benavente Memorial Library.
Team JKPL met with Pacific region leaders from public libraries from Guam, American Samoa, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands to discuss best practices and information sharing.
Following the Library Services Grants to the Pacific Region Training Workshop, Team JKPL met with department heads from the Hawaii State Library, UH Manoa’s Hawaiian and Pacific Collection, Hawaii Library for the Blind and Print Disabled under the Library of Congress, Hawaii Library Association, Waikiki Public Library, and Kaimuki Public Library to share best practices; to discuss professional development opportunities; and to strengthen partnerships with regional affiliates.
Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi shared, “It was truly a great honor to present the amazing programs, services, highlights, and evaluation in which we have been actively engaging with our Saipan, Tinian, and Rota community. From Read Aloud, Storytime, Pacific Cultural Corner, Stationary Activities, Teen Night, Art@My Library, Birthday@My Library, 5K Literacy Fun Run/Walk, National Library Week, Anniversary Celebration, Summer Reading Program, Health @My Library, Volunteer Program, expansion of our collections with LGBTQ+ books donated from the Marianas T-Project, Nippon Foundation books about Japan, ukulele classes, writing contests, reading challenges, Northern Marianas Humanities Council’s Motheread/Fatheread CNMI Program, Book Launches, Book-a-Treat, Trunk-or Treat, Curbside Pick-Up, expansion of our Information Technology Center; our virtual learning resources available from our website www.cnmilib.org such as EBSCOhost, MANGO language, Galecengage, READsquared, Niche Academy, Google Applied Digital Skills, Baker and Taylor Axis 360 e-books, and so much more!”
Independent Evaluator Qualitymetrics concluded that the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library-CNMI State Library achieved all three goals for their Five-Year Plan.
“Thank you to our amazing leaders, community partners, donors, volunteers, and patrons. We wouldn’t be here today without your continued support. Thank you most especially our hardworking team in the frontlines assisting our community,” Naputi said.
As part of the 2018-2022 LSTA Five Year Plan evaluation process, the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library worked with independent evaluators to distribute a survey to library stakeholders.
The survey was built in Qualtrics survey software and distributed by the evaluators via email invitation to 99 library stakeholders.
The survey ran from August 12, 2021 through September 24, 2021.
The goals of the survey were to assess the impact of the funds provided by the LSTA program on the library and the people that the library serves, and to inform the library’s 2023-2027 Five-Year Plan for LSTA funds.
The survey asked respondents to look back over the last few years and to consider how the LSTA program has benefitted libraries and library users, to think about the future and to suggest new ways in which LSTA funds should be invested, and provided the opportunity for respondents to offer any other observations about JKPL’s LSTA program.
The three goals of the current Five Year LSTA Plan were shared with respondents in the survey’s introduction (“21st Century Skills,” “Maintain and upgrade CNMISL Technology Infrastructure,” and “Literate CNMI.”)
The evaluators concluded that CNMI State Library or CNMISL has achieved Goal 1, Literate CNMI.
The library developed and supported successful adult and early and emergent literacy programs, such as Motheread/Fatheread, in-person and virtual Storytimes in both English and Chamorro, and Stationary Activities, and provided innovative services and programs that encourage reading and community involvement, including community cultural classes such as ukulele classes, oral history workshops, talaya throw net fishing classes; as well as foreign language classes and online resources, and children’s Art Camp.
These programs serve to heighten community involvement and cement the role of the library as a community anchor.
In the evaluators’ stakeholder survey, 55% of respondents praised programs funded by Goal 1. Comments from the survey highlighted the importance of varied programs, from Motheread/Fatheread CNMI to ukulele lessons.
Importantly, CNMISL pivoted and continued to provide these services virtually or distanced in the midst of a global pandemic, as well as in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu. The library’s work developing and encouraging community involvement positioned them well to serve two critical community functions during the pandemic — as a distribution site for the CNMI PSS Child Nutrition program, ensuring that students had meals during virtual learning, and in providing direct support for the community in understanding and filing for PUA and FPUC. Throughout these efforts, CNMISL actively collected user and program data to inform how programs were, or could better meet, community needs — using this data to shape and improve the literacy and community services offered.
“The library plays a huge role in my culture because we can learn about our past through books. It’s a great way for those who don’t know about our culture to learn about it. It’s also great for the kids to be able to see themselves and their history in books at the library,” said a Pacific Cultural Corner participant.
“JKPL has been an ambassador of our culture. They help share and preserve it from their collection of literature, through their outreach programs, and cultural awareness activities. JKPL is safeguarding our local culture and knowledge. We all know that knowledge is power,” said another Pacific Cultural Corner participant.
The evaluators concluded that CNMISL has achieved Goal 2, and would have achieved all of the corresponding measures if not for the pandemic. CNMISL funded staff attendance at library-related training opportunities and conferences both on- and off-island so that staff are able to continuously provide quality library services to the community; staff in turn provided community programming around health literacy and computer literacy out of the ITC. The library’s volunteer program was expanded to increase capacity until the pandemic began.
“I learned how all the books in the library are organized, learned how to organize them, learned to interact with others, learned how some things are made (like the Oobleck and DIY Tie Dye activities). Lastly, I learned what it’s like to be in a workplace environment,” said a Library Volunteer.
“I developed creativity skills and communication skills. The JKPL staff recorded and uploaded a video of me, which helped me gain some confidence. I also learned some art skills from the activities for the children. I plan to pass down those activities to my tutees at Kagman Elementary School,” another Library Volunteer said.
Importantly, all volunteers surveyed reported being comfortable asking questions of their supervisors, and in exit and evaluation surveys, overwhelmingly noted a positive volunteer experience.
“I think this is a great program! I would recommend others to do so, if they are interested. I learned a lot from this experience, made new friends, and most of all, enjoyed it!” a Library Volunteer said.
The evaluators concluded that CNMISL has achieved Goal 3. Funds were used to upgrade public access computers and equipment at all three branches of CNMISL; to provide printers, laptops, and projectors; and to pay for other technology services critical to the library’s ability to serve the public such as website hosting, the RFID Security System, and the OPAC.
The library leveraged the new printers during Covid to assist the community by freely printing employment and educational materials, as well as PUA and FPUC applications.
The first tablets were made available to patrons on the islands of Rota and Tinian, and LSTA funds were used to install technology at the newly opened Fernando M. Benavente Memorial Library on Saipan, which serves the community in a particularly economically disadvantaged area.
Ebooks were available through the ILS system for the first time and were used by over a third of respondents to the evaluators’ patron survey.
Goal 3 received high praise in the evaluators’ stakeholder survey, in which community partners, Friends of the Library, and staff highlighted the many ways in which these expenditures assist in workforce development and help fight the digital divide.
“Since I started doing work in [the] Information Technology Center, I’ve enjoyed and learned a lot and loved the customer service here in Joeten-Kiyu Library… Thank you Joeten-Kiyu Library Staff for your Great Customer Service!!!! :),” said a JKPL Online Resources Participant.
“The class introduced me to more online resources I could use and can be helpful in my college classes,” said another JKPL Online Resources Participant.
“Thank you & I love you all!” said a Résumé Writing Workshop Participant
Please enjoy your public library’s free resources by visiting its website at www.cnmilib.org and like/follow JKPL’s Facebook page @joetenkiyupubliclibrary, Instagram @joetenkiyupubliclibrary, TikTok @jkpl670, Twitter @JoetenKiyu, and YouTube.
For more information, contact (670) 235-7323/7322 (READ) or visit your friendly Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.
Current hours of operation: open Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Holidays.
From June 7 to August 7, 2022, the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library summer hours are as follows: Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays, Mondays, and holidays.
Team Joeten-Kiyu Public Library participated recently in a regional meeting and workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii.
