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Prime Time Family Reading Time is an innovative family reading program designed for low-income families in communities where student reading scores do not meet Nebraska state standards. The six-week program is hosted by local libraries and led by a storyteller and a discussion leader. Since 2005, when the Nebraska Library Commission funded student interns to work with Prime Time, bilingual student assistants have contributed to the programs while also learning about library work. Erika Hamilton, state coordinator of Prime Time, Nebraska Humanities Council Program Officer, will share her experiences in encouraging parents and children to read award-winning illustrated children’s books, to recognize and discuss humanities topics in the stories, and to become active public library users.
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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