PRIME TIME PRIME TIME FAMILY FAMILY

READING TIMEREADING TIME®®

Presented by:Presented by:

NEBRASKA HUMANITIES COUNCIL

PRIME TIMEPRIME TIME is a 6 week humanities-based is a 6 week humanities-based

storytelling, reading and discussion storytelling, reading and discussion program held at libraries, schools program held at libraries, schools and other public venues.and other public venues.

What does What does Prime TimePrime Time look like? look like?

Discussion over real-life issues Discussion over real-life issues presented in each bookpresented in each book

Library commercialLibrary commercial Door prizesDoor prizes Check out books for next weekCheck out books for next week

Begins with a mealBegins with a meal Comments from special guestsComments from special guests Interactive reading & Interactive reading &

storytellingstorytelling

Since 2004, Nebraska has completed 62 Prime Time programs in 15 public libraries, 5 elementary schools and 2 community centers in 13 communities.

Nebraska ranks 4th nationally in the number of Prime Time programs completed.

Target AudienceTarget Audience Communities where student reading scores do Communities where student reading scores do

not meet state standardsnot meet state standards

Low-income families / beginning literacy Low-income families / beginning literacy

Families with grade-school children who are at Families with grade-school children who are at risk for low reading skillsrisk for low reading skills

Infrequent / non library usersInfrequent / non library users

Addressing a need:Addressing a need:

Nebraska is one of 13 “new growth” Nebraska is one of 13 “new growth” states.states.

ELL in Nebraska grew by 227% ELL in Nebraska grew by 227% between 1995 & 2005.between 1995 & 2005.

(Source: Education Magazine 2009 report)(Source: Education Magazine 2009 report)

64% of immigrant children have 64% of immigrant children have parents who struggle with English.parents who struggle with English.

40% have parents who never finished 40% have parents who never finished high school.high school. (Source: Kids Count in Nebraska 2009 (Source: Kids Count in Nebraska 2009 Report)Report)

Graduation Rates (Graduation Rates (NebraskaNebraska):):

53.8% for Hispanics/Latinos53.8% for Hispanics/Latinos

47.4% for Blacks47.4% for Blacks

35.2% for American Indians35.2% for American Indians

84.5% for Caucasians84.5% for Caucasians(Source: Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, 2007 report)(Source: Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, 2007 report)

Prime TimePrime Time Goal: Goal:Introduce Families to ReadingIntroduce Families to Reading

Encourage parents and Encourage parents and children to bond children to bond through reading and through reading and learning together.learning together.

Demonstrate to parents Demonstrate to parents how they can read how they can read aloud to their children.aloud to their children.

Teach families how to discuss important Teach families how to discuss important issues together by using storybooks as a issues together by using storybooks as a backdrop.backdrop.

Teach families how to select books.Teach families how to select books.

Foster a love for reading and transform Foster a love for reading and transform children and parents into active readers.children and parents into active readers.

Encourage high academic expectations Encourage high academic expectations and achievement.and achievement.

A chance to talkA chance to talkabout real-life issuesabout real-life issues

such as:such as: FairnessFairness Greed and Greed and

generositygenerosity DeterminationDetermination CourageCourage Kinship and Kinship and

loyaltyloyalty Dreams Dreams

Results: Results: “After participating in “After participating in Prime TimePrime Time, , do you read with your child more often?”do you read with your child more often?”

90%

10%

85%

15%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Post-Program 90 Days Follow-Up

Compiled data from 2009 sites

YesNo

Results: Results: “Has “Has Prime TimePrime Time changed the way changed the way you and your child read and discuss books?”you and your child read and discuss books?”

88%

12%

82%

18%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Post-Program 90 Days Follow-Up

Compiled data from 2009 sites

YesNo

Prime TimePrime Time Goal: Introduce Goal: Introduce Families to LibrariesFamilies to Libraries

Focus group in Focus group in South Omaha: South Omaha: “Are Latinos afraid “Are Latinos afraid to use the library?”to use the library?”

Parents said YES Parents said YES – Afraid of not being Afraid of not being

understoodunderstood

Libraries are SAFELibraries are SAFE

Latino parents are suspicious of Latino parents are suspicious of government buildings.government buildings.

Librarians become approachable, Librarians become approachable, familiar mentors.familiar mentors.

Families realize that libraries are Families realize that libraries are safe places to go.safe places to go.

Libraries are FREELibraries are FREE

From countries From countries where libraries where libraries are are notnot free and free and are for the elite.are for the elite.

Families don’t Families don’t realize they can realize they can go into libraries go into libraries and check out and check out material for free.material for free.

Results: Results: “Has “Has Prime TimePrime Time changed your changed your family’s attitude towards the library?”family’s attitude towards the library?”

75%

25%

73%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Post-Program 90 Days Follow-Up

Compiled data from 2009 sites

Yes

No

PRIME TIMEPRIME TIME Essential ComponentsEssential Components

Multiple sets of booksMultiple sets of books Storyteller & Discussion LeaderStoryteller & Discussion Leader Preschool coordinator for younger siblingsPreschool coordinator for younger siblings TransportationTransportation Nutritious meals and door prizesNutritious meals and door prizes Publicity materialsPublicity materials CertificatesCertificates Site support manualSite support manual Training workshops & idea exchangesTraining workshops & idea exchanges

The StorytellerThe Storyteller Has a broad knowledge Has a broad knowledge

of children’s literatureof children’s literature Comfortable working with Comfortable working with

non-traditional audiencesnon-traditional audiences Demonstrates replicable Demonstrates replicable

storytelling and read-storytelling and read-aloud techniquesaloud techniques

Is comfortable sharing Is comfortable sharing the stage (and audience) the stage (and audience) with a scholarwith a scholar

Is a good listenerIs a good listener Likes to have Likes to have funfun!!

The Discussion The Discussion LeaderLeader

Has an advanced Has an advanced degree in a degree in a humanities fieldhumanities field

Is eager to transmit a Is eager to transmit a love of reading and love of reading and talking about bookstalking about books

Is comfortable Is comfortable working with an working with an intergenerational intergenerational at-risk audienceat-risk audience

Is comfortable asking Is comfortable asking open-ended questionsopen-ended questions

Is a good listenerIs a good listener

Site Coordinator RolesSite Coordinator Roles

Plan, prepare and host Plan, prepare and host the programsthe programs

Network with Network with community agencies community agencies and and compadrescompadres to to recruit participantsrecruit participants

Recruit volunteersRecruit volunteers Introduce the library Introduce the library

resourcesresources

More Site RolesMore Site Roles

Provide a staff member Provide a staff member to serve as coordinatorto serve as coordinator

Provide nutritious meals Provide nutritious meals and door prizesand door prizes

Arrange transportation Arrange transportation for families who need itfor families who need it

Identify a preschool Identify a preschool coordinatorcoordinator

Identify other team Identify other team members as neededmembers as needed

Student InternStudent Intern For public librariesFor public libraries 55-60 hour internship55-60 hour internship High school or lower-High school or lower-

level college studentlevel college student Help prepare and Help prepare and

evaluate evaluate Prime TimePrime Time General library workGeneral library work Encourage minority Encourage minority

students to consider a students to consider a library careerlibrary career

An “insider” to An “insider” to Prime TimePrime Time’s target ’s target audienceaudience

Recruit familiesRecruit families Weekly reminder Weekly reminder

phone callsphone calls Greet at check-inGreet at check-in

Community Community LiaisonLiaison

VolunteersVolunteers

Can help with:Can help with: Book bag Book bag

circulationcirculation Registering Registering

participantsparticipants Donating and Donating and

preparing foodpreparing food Preschool program Preschool program

activitiesactivities

Prime TimePrime Time Statistics Statistics 100% of families who attend 100% of families who attend Prime TimePrime Time

at libraries have library cards by the at libraries have library cards by the sixth week.sixth week.

Before attending Before attending Prime TimePrime Time in 2009, in 2009, 31% of the families reported that they 31% of the families reported that they used the public library 3 or more times used the public library 3 or more times per month. Ninety days after per month. Ninety days after Prime Prime TimeTime, that statistic jumped to 62%. , that statistic jumped to 62%.

98% want more family activities like 98% want more family activities like Prime TimePrime Time..

What families say about What families say about Prime Time Prime Time ……

“I realize that the library is a place where we can find the best way to share our time and feelings as a family.” - South Sioux City

“I thought it was more difficult to go to the library and boring and already I have learned more about the services that they provide here.”

- Lincoln

“I’m at a loss for words. All I can say is thanks.”

- Grand Island

“My child is more open to ask questions and see the story from different points of view. She imagines more than before.”

- Gering

What site coordinators say What site coordinators say about about Prime Time Prime Time ……

“Many members in our audience have fairly few outlets for getting together with other adults. Between working several jobs or caring for children at home, they don’t have so much opportunity for social things. Also, the kind of conversation that Prime Time promotes is pretty unusual – I think the adults enjoyed that.” - Lincoln

“We finished our program last night. I am so happy with the way it went and can’t wait to participate again. It was wonderful!”

- South Sioux City