Boaz City Schools Foundation Grant

LS 532 Grant Project

Spring 2012

Cindy Lancaster

Patrick Link

Katy Pate

Jana Watts

General InformationThe Boaz City Schools Foundation grant is a local grant which is open to all educators of the Boaz City School System. 5 members of the Board of Directors form a committee and score the grant application using a 100 point rubric. The maximum amount that can be requested is $400. The grant request cover letter along with the original and five copies of the grant application must be submitted. All forms are available online: http://www.boazfoundation.org/Foundation/grant.html

Boaz Middle School Library

• Interning this semester with a UA SLIS graduate at BMS

• Assisted in writing a local grant for starting a book club; award was given

• Discussed grant ideas for the BMS library• Collection development project on solar system

books in the 520s; 6th grade research• Pursued local grant in effort to purchase

updated solar system print resources

Outline for Grant ProposalThe applicant is given a outline for how to prepare the proposal along

with the scoring rubric.

A. Grant Request Cover Letter (required)

B. Executive Summary of Description (5 pts)

C. Statement of Need & Background Information (10 pts)

D. Project Goals & Objectives (10 pts)

E. Methods, Techniques, & Procedures Used (10 pts)

F. Timetable of Completion (5 pts)

G. Materials Needed (5 pts)

H. Anticipated Impact (15 pts)

I. Improvement to Student Character, Achievement, & Motivation (15 pts)

J. Project Sustainability (5 pts)

K. Evaluation Plan (10 pts)

L. Itemized Budget (5 pts)

M. Closing Summary (5 pts)

Grant Request Cover Letter

This is a form that the grant applicant must complete. • Contact Information• School Name• Title of the Project• Funds Requested• Number of Students Served• Signatures of Applicant & Principal

B: Executive Summary

• Great need for updating 520s collection

• Print resources utilized year-round

• Especially during annual 6th grade solar system research project

• All grant money would be spent to purchase print resources

• Benefits of up-to-date and correct information

• More likely to circulate if relevant

C: Statement of Need/Background

• 56 books in the 520’s collection need to be weeded because they are out of date (18-33 years old) and contain incorrect information

• Need up-to-date information on certain issues like Pluto being a dwarf planet, the completion of the International Space Station, and the increasing known number of moons for some of the planets

• As students use print materials for research, it is important for these resources to be up-to-date and relevant and similar to what they would find on websites and the AVL databases

C: Statement of Need/Background

•Explained the weeding criteria for the 500s pure sciences section as set forth in CREW and Alabama’s School Library Media Handbook for the 21st Century Learner •Inserted a chart that listed all 56 books in need of weeding including rationale

Author Title Copyright

Date

Call Number

Rationale

Asimov, Isaac A Distant Puzzle: the Planet Uranus

1994 523.47

Asi

18 years old; lists Pluto as 1 of 9 planets; illustrations look out-dated

Brewer, Duncan

Mars Planet Guides

1992 523.4

Bre

20 years old; “More Books to Read” lists books published in 1980s; missing recent discoveries

Pogue, William R.

How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space?

1985 629.4

Pog

27 years old; very few black and white illustrations; mostly text in an uninviting format

Simon, Seymour

Jupiter 1984 523.4

Sim

28 years old; photos look fuzzy and dated; missing current discoveries

D: Project Goals and Objectives

• Librarians are responsible for maintaining a collection that supports the state-mandated curricular objectives

• The proposed print sources would address the following objectives:

Alabama Course of Study 6th grade science objectives #9) Identify the moon's phases.#10) Describe components of the universe and their relationships to each other, including stars, planets and their moons, solar systems, and galaxies.#11) Describe units used to measure distance in space, including astronomical units and light years.

Alabama Literacy Course of Study standards for k-12 students #1) The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively. #2) The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently. #3) The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively. #9) The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

E: Methods, Techniques, Procedures

I. Selected items based on their direct support of the science curriculum and positive recommendations from retrospective and current selection tools; thought was given to what students and teachers would utilize most frequently

II. Follow the purchasing process set forth by the school system

III. Purchase from vendors with best prices

IV. Process books and prepare them for circulation

V. Allow the 6th grade science teacher to view them before putting them on the shelves. Send an email to the faculty promoting the new additions

VI. Place new books in the 520s section for circulation

VII. Books will be placed on reserve during the annual

6th grade science project

F: Timetable of Completion

• Upon receipt of grant money, the library would be ready to purchase the selected resources immediately. The books have already been selected and priced.

• The librarian will continue to collaborate with the 6th grade science teacher each year for a solar system research project.

G: Materials Needed• Print resources that have been published within the last

several years which discuss the components of our universe and the solar system.

• The newer the publication, the more likely the information will be more current and relevant.

H: Anticipated Impact

• Better supports the science curriculum, so teachers can rely on both print and online resources as part of the research process

• Updated resources should increase circulation of the 520s nonfiction section fostering an interest in science and technology

• Spurring an interest in and providing resources on space exploration and technology at this impressionable age can help our students become more successful academically

• This could allow them to be more competitive for local career opportunities in space and aviation

I: Student Improvement

• Students will benefit from learning the most current and relevant information as well as having more reliable options to choose from for research.

• Students will be motivated to explore the many sub topics of the solar system for pleasure or for school assignments.

• Students will have opportunities to become critical, responsible seekers and producers of information.

J: Project Sustainability

• Newly purchased titles will remain in the BMS library collection for approximately 5-10 years or longer depending on how fast space exploration progresses with new discoveries and technologies.

K: Evaluation and Follow Up

I. Create circulation reports periodically on the newly purchased books to evaluate how often they are being checked out

II. Design a book display in the library to promote space exploration and the newly purchased solar system books

III. Continue to expand this particular section of the nonfiction collection when funds become available

IV. Informally observe the students’ use to the new materials during annual research project; Have students and teacher formally complete a questionnaire to provide concrete feedback (examples provided in document)

L. Itemized Budget• Listed 19 print resources in chart format with the vendor,

author, title, publisher, copyright date, price, a short description, and selection tools

• Inserted price summaries from both Permabound and Bound to Stay Bound within the grant

Vendor

Author Title Publisher

Date Price Description SelectionTools

Bound toStay Bound

Aguilar ,

David A.

13 Planets: the Latest View of the Solar System

National Geographic

2011 $18.22 Profiles each of the planets in Earth's solar system, including Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Haumea, Make Make, the sun, the Oort cloud, comets, and more.

Booklist, Horn Book, Library MediaConnectionWilson’s Junior High School

Perma-bound

Carson, Mary Kay

Far Out Guide to the Solar System Set (12 books)

Bailey Books

2010-2011

$215.40

set

Set includes 12 individual books on the sun, the 8 planets, the icy dwarf planets, the moon, and asteroids & comets.

Hornbook, Library MediaConnectionSchool Library Journal,Wilson’s Children

Perma-bound

Miller, Ron

Seven Wonders of the Gas Giants and Their Moons

Twenty-First Century Books

2011 $24.95 The seven wonders of giant planets of the solar system are: the many rings of Saturn; the violent storm that is the Great Red Spot of Jupiter; …

Booklist, Hornbook, School Library Journal,Wilson’s Children & Junior High

M: Closing Summary

• Reiterated need of funding to improve the 520s section and how important it is for middle school students to have access to accurate and current print resources for their research projects

• This grant will be submitted to the Boaz Schools Foundation before April 30th for consideration for upcoming school year.

• Any comments or questions?