The CA2CA@SCA-RL project activities were conducted from July 2017 – June 2019 and included activities identified in the grant proposal under the “Project Design and Evaluation” section. All the objectives were met and the project was completed by the closing date of the grant. The following is a list of select high-level activities completed over the course of the grant:
- Creation of the CA2CA@SCA-RL website (URL: http://scholar.cci.utk.edu/plsb-tn).
- Formation of the CA2CA@SCA-RL Advisory Board with 11 members (including CA2CA@SCA-RL partner agencies) who assisted in developing data collection protocols, collecting data in distribution of the surveys to rural librarians and public libraries in their regions, and identifying interview participants. The CA2CA@SCA-RL Advisory Board provided feedback to develop the blueprint of the Community Engagement strategic action plan for its operationalization and implementation.
- Creation of an online GIS mapping project to identify best practices and case study examples of high-level community engagement initiatives undertaken by rural public libraries across the Southern and Central Appalachian region. (URL: https://arcg.is/0Gzrvi).
- Development of a question-based survey regarding past community engagement activities distributed to rural public librarians across the region. The survey was made available via the University of Tennessee Qualtrics system: (https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0kc2VglqeVTbkXP). The survey was distributed to rural library contacts, CA2CA@SCA-RL partners, advisory board members, and others. A total of 126 responses were recorded.
- A total of 15 qualitative narrative interviews were conducted with rural public librarians and others involved in developing community engagement initiatives in public libraries in the Southern and Central Appalachian region.
- Development of a question-based survey regarding future library roles in community engagement activities distributed to rural public librarians across the region. The survey was made available via the University of Tennessee Qualtrics system: (https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9QtiPmeiZJtX7kF). The survey was distributed to rural library contacts, CA2CA@SCA-RL partners, advisory board members, and others. A total of 42 responses were recorded.
- A total of five focus groups (with three participants each) were conducted with rural public librarians and others regarding their future library roles in community engagement activities in public libraries in the Southern and Central Appalachian region.
- Analysis of feedback collected during the research was compiled into a comprehensive dataset. It provided a rich and detailed understanding of the past and future community engagement efforts of rural public libraries (see Research Products). Feedback also helped to develop a blueprint design of the Community Engagement Strategic Action Plan. On April 29, 2019, we conducted a Rural Library Community Engagement Summit at the Blount County Public Library in East Tennessee to engage with 20 rural public library representatives to discuss a blueprint design and strategic action plan for rural library community engagement.
- Mehra, B. (June 2018-ongoing). Advisory Board Member, Transforming Libraries into Community Anchors in Rural Texas (TLCART), Institute of Museum and Library Services, Laura Bush 21 Century Librarians Program FY 2018: School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s University and Texas Library Association.
- Mehra, B. (May 2018-ongoing). Advisory Board Member), Rural Library Service & Social Wellbeing, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Laura Bush 21 Century Librarians Program FY 2018: Southern Tier Library System, Inc., Chautauqua Catttaraugus Library System, Pioneer Library System, and Association for Rural and Small Libraries.
- Mehra, B. (2018-ongoing). Co-Chair, Community conn@CT, Association for Library and Information Science Education.