National Library Camp Feasibility Study ALA Emerging Leaders 2007

National Library Camp Feasibility Study
ALA Emerging Leaders 2007, Project Q
Team Members:
Mario Ascencio,
George Mason University
Christy Donaldson,
Utah Valley State College
Jolie Graybill,
Northern Arizona University
Florante Ibanez,
Loyola Law Library
Our Mentors:
Loriene Roy, ALA President-Elect
Kerry Ward, ALA contact
Introduction
There is a pressing need to fill the ranks of America’s Librarians and
other Information Professionals (i.e. archivists, museum curators,
etc.). As has been discussed at many meetings, diversity of the
profession is a major goal as is attracting the youth of America. The
concept of a National Library Camp is a welcome project whose time has
finally come. As we embark into the social networking and information
sharing of Web 2.0, young people have become more and more internet,
communications, and technologically savvy. As information
professionals we should be on the cutting edge as well as firmly
rooted in traditional librarianship.
A National Library Camp geared towards middle school and/or high
school aged youth could be a nurturing and mentoring space for the
next generation of Information Professionals. It can be a place for
students to find the thrill and challenge of research pursuit and the
satisfaction of serving others in completing their information seeking
tasks and goals. Technology and established library theory can go hand
in hand as we exchange ideas of information needs and solutions among
professionals and students.
Camp Scenarios
Academic camps can serve as a model as well as provide an existing
framework to insert a “Library/ Informational Profession” module. This
module could be integrated into existing sessions of Library Research,
or inclusion of information professionals as speakers on Career Panel
presentations. Small groups could shadow a librarian for a day/week to
observe first hand what the career entails.
Program Proposal – College / University Collaboration
Universities throughout the country have established programs to
identify and work with students, usually junior high or high school
students. The main goal of these programs is to get students into
college. Many students may be at-risk and coming from populations that
are considered at-risk economically, environmentally (geographically),
and educationally (1st generation college students); or as I like to
call them, "the three E's." Programs, such as Upward Bound, Trio
Program, and Early Identification Programs are already working with
students to help them to think and get into college. In our opinion,
the American Library Association should work with these already
established programs to incorporate research skills, information
literacy/fluency skills, and technology skills that are currently
absent from many of these programs. Many of the existing programs are
aware of this absence in their programs of these important learning
skills. Therefore, one of my suggestions would be to partner up with
one of these already existing programs.
Upward Bound - Approximately 850 federally mandated programs
throughout the U.S. in both urban and rural areas. There is a summer
program component which would allow the American Library Association
to create a library and information component to the already existing
program.
Trio Programs - Unlike Upward Bound, Trio Programs are tied to a
specific school. Therefore, students accepted into these programs and
maintain a certain minimum GPA are guaranteed acceptance into the
University. (www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html)
Council for Opportunity and Education - Nonprofit organization,
established in 1981, dedicated to furthering the expansion of
educational opportunities throughout the United States. Through its
numerous membership services, the Council works in conjunction with
colleges, universities, and agencies that host TRIO Programs to
specifically help low-income Americans enter college and graduate.
Program Proposal – Public Library System Collaboration
There are standing examples of summer reading programs and local
“Library Camp” days and even Library Camp sleepovers for youth and
parents. A possible National Library Camp scenario could be to utilize
existing Public Library summer reading programs and integrate
information career talks, “librarian shadowing” and information
researching assignments for students. A possible high light of the
Camp could be a visit to the Annual ALA Conference Exhibit Hall
(assuming that the National Library Camp would be hosted by the Public
Library system each year where the ALA conference would be held). The
students could also be invited to one of the various author/speaker
luncheons or breakfast (i.e. Annual Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Breakfast). Outreach and recruitment could be the responsibility of
the local public library system.
Program Proposal – National Library Camp (California Pilot Project
Meeting)
The 2008 ALA Annual Conference will be held in Anaheim, CA (Orange
County). There are Library Graduate Schools at UCLA in West Los
Angeles and at Cal State Fullerton University, (Orange County) (as a
satellite / distance learning center for the San Jose State University
Program). A small pilot project utilizing resources from both these
institutions (i.e. speakers, mentors, and logistics) could be
integrated with the Early Outreach Program at the University of
California at Irvine campus (UCI). I have had promising discussion
with the director of the UCI Program. They work with students
throughout the year and bring them to UCI during the summer for
programs. However, because of the ALA Conference being held in the
beginning of summer and the UCI programs being held in the late summer
(August), perhaps an initial meeting of the UCI program staff with ALA
National Library Camp planning personnel would be fruitful for a
future collaboration. I have also had discussion with staff from the
California State Library and there are possible funding opportunities
from them as well. Perhaps the State Library Associations could rotate
the hosting of the National Library Camp annually. This could provide
a friendly competition among them for innovative and outstanding
programming.
Program Proposal – Hybrid or Virtual Library Camp
Developing a hybrid or virtual library camp could increase
participation through virtual participation of campers worldwide. An
online camp would also significantly reduce the cost of participating
in the camp. This concept would utilize iPods, blogging, wikis, etc.
to download information and create and interactive environment. We
could also get the Second Life Teen Grid EYE 4 U Alliance, the teen
library project, involved in this camp program.
Analysis
Much of our research comes from the American Camp Association (ACA)
which currently has over 7,000 members and has accredited over 2,400
camps worldwide. Our analysis is focused on day camp statistics since
our proposals are mainly based on the idea of the National Library
Camp following the day camp scenario rather than a resident camp
scenario where students live at camp overnight for several days.
Here are some basic statistical facts about camps. More than 12,000
day and resident camps exist in the US. Each year, more than 11
million children and adults attend camps. Nonprofit groups operate
approximately 8,000 camps and for-profit or privately owned camps
number around 4,000. Camp costs vary with average weekly fees ranging
from $325 to $780. In a recent ACA survey, 75% of camp directors
reported adding new programs and activities over the last few years.
65% of camps reported enrollment that stayed the same or increased
within the last five years and 35% of camps reported that they were
90-99% full.
As far as costs for day camps go, an article published in Camping
Magazine in 2006 by Jon Malinowski states that of the 305 day camps
that participated in his survey, 66% of the camps surveyed charged
between $100-299 per week. Malinowski states that the average day camp
costs $303 per week to attend and only 3% of the 305 day camps
reported a cost of over $700 per week. 43% of these camps were
“agency-sponsored, and the vast majority of these camps are affiliated
with the YMCA.” This category of agency-sponsored camp had the lowest
overall fee per week of only $157. On average the results showed that
non-profit day camps had overall higher average day fees but figure
was skewed be a few programs with extraordinary high fees and it
should be noted that the median non-profit day camp fees per week are
$230 which is lower than the median fees of for-profit camps which
came in at $400 per week. Most of the day camps surveyed in
Malinowski’s article provided some sort of scholarships for students
that couldn’t afford the camp fees.
Due to the way day camps are structured, most of the revenue generated
from day camps comes from camper registration fees and are then spent
mostly on labor. Day camp expenses generally breakdown as follows: 54%
for labor, 10.2% for transportation and program supplies, and 7.6% for
expenses (Malinowski). From the 2003 Camp Industry Benchmarking
Survey, the median camp expenditures were $237,000 per year though of
those responding 11% were considered residential camps.
According to a survey conducted by ACA in which 938 camps responded to
the survey, 79% of day camps currently employ a full time, year round
camp director and the median salary (before taxes and deductions) for
annual day camp directors was $38,300. The majority of those camp
directors that are employed year round also receive health and
retirement benefits and professional development funding. Staffing for
day camps usually also includes paid positions on a full time seasonal
basis. Of the camps surveyed 71% had full time seasonal counselors,
58% lead or head counselor, and 51% assistant camp director. (www.ACAcamps.org/research/salary_study.php)
References
Bialeschki, M. D. (2006). What's happening with camp enrollment?
Camping Magazine, March.
http://www.acacamps.org/research/
Timeline
*
ALA Board presenation – October 2007
*
Grant exploration, 2007
*
Pilot Camp June 2008