(oops…meant to publish this June 24, but alas. It was languishing in my draft folder)
I thought I would have lots of time to blog about coordinating the Community Workshop Series, but there’s been a flurry of activity, plus teaching, and lots of emails to write. So here’s a recap of what’s been happening in June:
One of our instructors met a Burmese refugee at a computer workshop, and her ESL teacher asked if we could offer classes specifically for the Burmese community. I spoke with my supervisor about it, and apparently CWS did a one-time class several years ago with students from Raleigh. It was too expensive for them to bus across the Triangle, so the workshops came to an end. However, I did some research and found out that there are 200+ Burmese-Karen refugees in Chapel Hill and Carrboro (as of 2007; there are likely more now). A former town council member contacted us with really good questions about how we would accommodate some of the limitations these students have; for example, transportation, language, advertising the classes, shortage of Karen language translators, etc.
Since our workshops typically rely on libraries and their librarians to help advertise the classes and register patrons, we would have to shift gears with the Burmese students and figure out a way to work with them directly. Because my time as coordinator ends in August, I want to be careful that we don’t offer something unsustainable to future volunteers. We might have to do a pilot series to see what the challenges are.
One idea is to offer the classes at another elementary school where many of the Burmese children are students. A week ago or so, the principal at another elementary school responded to my email about setting up computer classes for Spanish-speaking parents, and she replied enthusiastically to the idea. Perhaps we could try both of these programs out in the fall when school is in session. This will give us a chance to talk to volunteers and gauge interest.
I’ve also been looking at the Gates Foundation, since they have an admirable public libraries initiative that touches on all of the issues we’re trying to address with the Community Workshop Series. I just found out that they funded Web Junction, which is a fantastic resource. I try to spend a little bit of time there each day to see what others have to say about public libraries and information literacy.
My supervisor had a great idea about offering information literacy classes to librarians in rural areas, particularly Web 2.0 kind of classes. It looks like the Gates Foundation offers grants to select states on a rolling basis, and 2008 is North Carolina’s year to apply. But I haven’t figured out yet how the grant process works.
I also thought it would be a good idea to contact the local newspaper and see if they would do a story about the Community Workshop Series. Particularly if we’re going to address new kinds of patrons like the Burmese and Spanish-speaking communities. The libraries have been doing a good job of promoting the workshops, but it can’t hurt to raise a little awareness about what we’re doing and why.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out how to add new people to the listserv, which (through UNC) is one of the most non user-friendly sites I’ve seen in a while. I need to get our volunteers and librarians together to discuss the upcoming fall schedule, and see if there are things that need attention. The new coordinator officially begins September 1, so there should be a fall schedule in place. Otherwise, the new hire will get slammed right at the beginning of the semester.
In a few days, I meet with Kim V and my supervisor to go over the CWS website and learn how to muck around in the back end. Hopefully we’ll have some time to brainstorm a few of the other projects we’re working on, and I can get back to my contact in the Burmese community with some answers about how those classes will work.
So, lots of balls in the air, and sometimes I feel as though I spend all of my time emailing people. But I feel good about the things we’re working on, and even if the projects don’t start until after my field experience is done, at least they’re getting some traction.
