Once Upon A Reader (OUR)

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$11,954

Project of

Southeastern Libraries Cooperating Legacy Grant SFY 2014 - SFY 2015

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient Type

Libraries

Status

Completed

Start Date

July 2014

End Date

June 2015

Activity Type

Education/Outreach/Engagement

Counties Affected

Dodge

Fillmore

Freeborn

Goodhue

Houston

Mower

Olmsted

Rice

Steele

Wabasha

Winona

Project Overview

The Once Upon a Reader one-book program is sponsored by the Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators with funding from the Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. This was the first year of a statewide early literacy program with the purpose of selecting one book each year and sending its creator(s) on a tour of public libraries throughout Minnesota to share their work with young children, parents and caregivers. As part of this larger program, SELCO provided all Head Starts and daycares in the SE region with a copy of the book "Moo!" as well as access to resources associated with the book and wider program.

Project Details

3994 participated

Project Details: 2015 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota for 2013 Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 4

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$11,954

Other Funds Leveraged

$4,347

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The focus of the program is to encourage young children and their parents or caregivers to read together and will be a featured initiative in public libraries throughout Minnesota. As part of the pilot year program, Once Upon a Reader will be giving a copy of "Moo!" to each Head Start affiliated program and eligible daycare in the SE Region, along with reading and programming guidelines. An interactive website with additional resources and an engaging social media presence was developed. The author/illustrator team will travel throughout the state offering a “Trunk Show” in each of the eleven SELCO counties, plus an additional show in Olmsted County, due to the population density, for a total of 12 shows in the SELCO region. In addition to this show a variety of unique, fully realized program options will be available to libraries allowing almost anyone to participate in the program.

Measurable Outcome(s)

SELCO purchased 1400 "Moo!" books. 1332 of the books were distributed to regional daycares and 68 went to regional libraries. This is in addition to the 975 books purchased using statewide funds that were distributed to regional Head Start programs. The author/Illustrator team presented 12 “Trunk Shows” as part of this grant, 1 paid for with Statewide funds, the other 11 with SELCO's Legacy Funding. There was 1 show in each of SELCO's 11 counties, plus an additional trunk show in Olmsted County. The interactive 45-minute “Trunk Show” with the author and illustrator included a reading of the book, a puppet show with original music to get the kids on their feet and an engaging story-making component. Kids are invited to add their ideas to the story with the author leading the discussion and the illustrator drawing their ideas. The illustration is signed by the author and illustrator and awarded to the library for display. During her travels around the state, “Cow” documents her experiences via Facebook for all to enjoy. https://www.facebook.com/onceuponareader?_rdr=p

Source of Additional Funds

SELCO, Owatonna Public Library, Faribault (Buckham) Public Library, Plainview Public Library, Red Wing Public Library, Rochester Public Library, Dodge Center Library, Spring Valley Public Library, Austin Public Library, Albert Lea Public Library, Rocheste