WebJunction

Mala, thanks for getting us set up. This is an easy way to talk about projects and other grantswriting issues.

Good Evening,
I thought I would post my homework...

I determined my "Audience" would be blind and/or visually impared children, birth to young adults as well as their caregivers and/or teachers.

As for the "Need", I read our Mohave County Library District Mission Statement, and it stated in there that "Mohave County Library provides a network of resources and services offering access to global information and personal enrichment". After reading that portion I realized that it's not entirely true with respect to the blind or visually impaired patrons. We do have two public computers that are equipped with software for them, but they are located at two of our community libraries in outlined areas which are only open fpr a limited number of hours each week.

While doing my research for a possible grant, I found that there are 26 families in Mohave County that have either blind or visually imparied children (12 in Kingman, 9 in Bullhead City and 8 in Lake Havasu City). These families can access the Arizona Braille & Talking Book Library, but I found that it hasn't been updated since Sept. 2007. The "Just for Kids" link takes you to the "Arizona Young Readers Award 2004 Nominations". That particular link has not been updated since Oct. 2006.

After talking to Kathy (the Kingman teacher) from Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind, she expressed her current need and what she would like available to her students in order to promote literacy.

I see my "Outcome" as being able to provide a place within the Kingman Branch Library for a Multi-Media Center that teachers and caregivers can come and enjoy and benefit from. The Center will include Braille learning aides, hands-on manipulatives, an audio book center, a large assortment of Braille bokks (board books, chapter books and young adult novels), and also provide access to cutting edge computer technology.

My "Partners" I could see being the Kingman Lion's Club, Kingman Friends of the Library, New Horizons, North Central Regional Cooperative and the teachers and administratiors from the Arizona State School's for the Deaf and Blind.

I look forward in being in class on Friday. Have a great night.

My outcome would be patrons who are not afraid of computers.

The audience would be any rural library patron not familiar or comfortable with computers.

The need: giving rural people the eyes to see computers as a tool to make their lives better such as: how to type, how computers can make getting a job easier in today's market, paying bills online, checking bank statements on line, placing holds for items at the library, applying for unemployement benefits or social security retirement benefits, etc.

What I want to change: patrons fear factor. I want people to be confident to walk up to any library computer to research, read, use the catalog or send an email without fear or apprehension.

Marsh