Seed Library
The Seed Library at Rochester Public Library opened March 2, 2019 and offered 45 varieties of vegetables and herbs for checkout. There was no due date for the seeds, but at the end of the growing season, successfully harvested seeds were returned to the Seed Library for others to grow. The Seed Library, however, was more than just free seeds. In conjunction with the seeds, we offered seed lists in multiple languages, growing guides, reading lists, seed saving, and garden design classes to help make gardeners of all abilities successful in growing their own food. The Seed Library closed for the season in late summer and switched over to teaching people how to save seeds from what they grew this year.
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RPL developed surveys for each program and distributed them to participants to measure improved knowledge/skills; increased awareness and understanding of the community and its resources; increased awareness of library services; and value of experience. RPL, which incorporated the Community Collaboration Grant survey questions into the Seed Library?s evaluation process, also asked participants how often they use library services, if they were more/less likely to attend future library events, if they were more/less likely to think of the library as a place to experience cultural or arts programming, and how they heard about the program.
Seed Library outputs included: over 8,400 seed packets distributed to gardens across Southeast Minnesota; 45 seed varieties distributed; 1,670 hand-outs taken; 12 news stories reported; community members donated over 1,900 seed packets; 430 people attended programs; and partners and volunteers contributed over 800 hours to the new Seed Library. The cumulative survey results for Seed Library events show that of attendees surveyed: 100% reported improved awareness of library services; 93% reported improved knowledge or skills; nearly 88% reported increased awareness and understanding of the community and its resources; 99% reported a positive experience with the library; 80% reported that they were more likely to attend future library events; and 100% were very likely or somewhat likely to think of the library as a place to experience cultural or arts programming. These results exceeded the original outcome goals set for the Seed Library.
Plant a Seed, Backyard Urban Homesteaders Meet Up Group, University of Minnesota Extension SNAP- Ed Regional Team, History Center of Olmsted County, Plant a Seed Initiative, Rochester Public Library Volunteers, Rochester Area Foundation, University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Program, Rochester Public Library