Carlie Spruill INFO 520 Grant Proposal March 24 th, 2012 A bookmobile program of hope for the town that almost washed away in Minamisanriku, Japan. Executive Summary On March 3 rd, 2011, Japan was hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that killed over 20,000 people and devastated the country. Throughout the Tohoku region, 251 libraries were affected by the disaster, entire collections were destroyed, buildings damaged and staff members still remain missing to this day (Okahisa, 2011). Along the coastal areas where entire towns were wiped out, Minamisanriku public library was one of the worst hit, washed away completely (Harlan, 2011). In order to provide entertainment, education and information services to the community of Minamisanriku, the library is proposing to pilot a bookmobile program for one year. The library is asking for $59,310 in grant funds to supplement the $141,200 that Help Toshokon, Toyoda, General Sekiyu, DOCOMO and the National Diet Library have already raised. Background of Institution Minamisanriku was a scenic fishing town on the coast of Japan in Miyagi prefecture, but after the March 11 th tsunami, the peaceful town was left in shambles. According to the Washington Post (2011), the tsunami damaged about 70 percent of Minamisanriku's buildings and left 1,157 people - out of a pre-disaster population of 17,666 - dead or missing. It ripped away the library, the hospital and 24 other public facilities, and left 700,000 tons of debris (Harlan, 2011). The Minamisanriku public library was a busy institution that provided a wealth 1
of services to all members of the town. Following the library director s death in the disaster (Okahisa, 2011), the town mayor, two surviving librarians, as well as volunteers across Japan have all pledged their hearts to fill the information needs of the Minamisanriku public library community. Statement of Need The citizens of Minamisanriku are still living in temporary shelters as the debate over where and how to rebuild has come to a standstill (Harlan, 2011) and citizens are currently without access to valuable information resources. Can a bookmobile program support the information needs of the community and fill the role of a public library? The answer is, yes. The Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship conducted a national survey in the U.S. in 1991 in order to determine patron reaction to the bookmobile and its services. The survey asked national respondents how bookmobile access affects one's life and 44 percent of the users said, it has made my life better (Vavrek, 1992). The reasons stated for using the bookmobile included the personal borrowing of books for pleasure and general knowledge, literacy training and access to children s resources and programming (Vavrek, 1992). In the 77th IFLA Conference on Disaster Recovery, Miura Taro, Chair of the International Relations Committee of the Japan Library Association noted in his report that there was a need for bookmobiles in areas of Japan that had their libraries damaged, as bookmobiles can function as a base for library services. He stated that in Kesennuma city in Miyagi Prefecture, the materials in the city s bookmobile collection were completely destroyed, but after receiving an outflow of support, repairs were made to the bookmobile and materials were replenished. 2
Kesennuma city was able to continue library services with the bookmobile visiting 80 sites inside the city (Miura, 2011). A book mobile project was also undertaken by the Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) in Iwate prefecture following the tsunami and was measured with great success (Direct Relief International, 2011). Patrons of the bookmobile said, "it is great that we can borrow books while living in the temporary houses," it makes us want to say "thank you for borrowing the books" (Shanti Volunteer Association, 2011). Proposed Program Project goals Provide library services to the community of Minamisanriku utilizing the bookmobile program Provide resources and workshops that provide for job training skills and rebuilding efforts Provide children s educational and entertainment materials Circulate books/newspapers/multimedia to the community(includes educational and entertainment materials) Provide resources for the disabled Storytelling Sundays Saturday movie events Children s day celebration with children s programming and prizes. Library awareness week Share and display the efforts of the bookmobile program 3
Build support for the future rebuilding of the Minamisanriku library Create strength in the community by bringing people together Materials and products needed Refurbishment of van donated by Toyoda. Includes: lighting, painting, cooling/heating system, generator, painting, lettering, ramps, exterior/interior handrails, shelving, speakers (association of bookmobiles and outreach services, 2008, pp.6-10). Staff- Two full time qualified librarians who were previously respected staff of the Minamisanriku public library. Bookmobile driver- Former bus driver in the community, responsible for driving and daily maintenance of the van/generator. Liability insurance Three new laptops for internet access (overseen by DOCOMO) Software (games, word processing, web design, photo editing) Projector $20,000 in collection development materials includes: resources for patrons with disabilities, medical resources, disaster response resources, job training materials, comic books, poetry, children s resources (coordinated with public school teachers) and various multimedia Ten newspaper subscriptions Monthly newsletter for advertising the upcoming services/changes in service. Daily miso soup and tea service Four guest speakers (launch day, Children s day, New Year, 3/11 memorial) 4
Materials for children s day event (arts &crafts, prizes) Materials for library awareness week (board games, prizes) Planning and implementation schedule July 2012 Arrange for purchase of equipment, oversee collection management and policies (based on needs assessment conducted in January 2012) Devise bookmobile stop locations and times (based on needs assessment conducted in January 2012) July 2012 Create newsletter with list of bookmobile services, locations and times July 2012 Receive van from Toyoda and begin refurbishment in Tokyo August 2012 Arrival of collection materials and sorting/ staff training/advertising of services/test runs September 2012 Begin bookmobile program, official launch is September 5 th September 2012 Guest Speaker: Mayor of Minamisanriku November 2012 Two month assessment, to be conducted every two months and reviewed at staff meetings. December 2012 Library awareness week (board games & prizes, speeches by librarians) January 2013 Guest Speaker: Shinto priest in relation to New Year s celebration February 2013 Circulate bookmobile survey March 2013 Guest Speaker: Famous Japanese comedian(miyagi resident) in unison with remember 3/11/2011 May 2013 Children s day celebration, arts and crafts activities, prizes May 2013 Guest Speaker: Children s author August 2013 Circulate bookmobile survey 5
Create website and blogs to give pathfinders for relevant information for residents and share the progress of the bookmobile project, done in conjunction with Minamisanriku public High School students and teachers Every Monday at three alternating bookmobile stops a specialist will give workshops on job training skills/rebuilding efforts Sunday storytelling by children s librarian, each mobile stop Saturday movies, two locations Daily miso soup and tea service Method of evaluation Every two months, feedback and observations collected during specialized programs and daily use will be compiled and discussed with staff in order to gauge the satisfaction, awareness and needs of the bookmobile program. Librarians will oversee collection management and will document relevant circulation data weekly. Every 6 months a formal questionnaire, including open-ended questions about the services and continued service will be circulated among patrons and will assess the overall success and shortcomings of the bookmobile program. Proposed Budget Program/Materials costs Vehicle costs/refurbishing Toyoda van $60,000 Shelving $200 Exterior painting and lettering $100 On-vehicle power supply $400 Lighting(interior and exterior) $300 Climate control system $500 6
Speakers(interior and exterior) $200 ADA accessibility design(includes installation) Ramps $300 Handrails(interior & exterior) $150 Estimated repair/maintenance costs(yearly) $10,000 Liability insurance (1mo./$100) X 12 months $1,200 Est. gas costs(53 wks.) $50,000 Personnel costs Driver includes daily maintenance($10/hour X 30 hours a week X 53 weeks) 2 qualified salaried librarians ($7/hour X 30 hours a week X 53 weeks) Job training/disaster relief consultant 1day/wk. ($50/day X 53 weeks) $15,900 $22,260 $2,650 Collection development Books $10,000 10 newspaper subscriptions ($50/month) X 12months $600 Videos/multimedia $5,000 Children's resources $5,000 Disabled patrons resources $1,500 3 laptops for internet access $2,900 Software(games, word processing, web design, photo editing) $2,000 Projector $3,000 Miscellaneous Miso soup & tea service ($10/daily) X 365 days $3,650 Guest speakers (4 times per year) $400 Library awareness week programming $300 Children's day celebration $200 Advertising: bookmobile newsletter($50/month printing fees) X 12months $600 Wireless internet($100/month) X 12months $1200 TOTAL COST $200,510 Program funding Toyoda grant $60,000 Save Toshokan fundraiser(collection development) $25,000 National Diet Library fundraiser $5,000 7
General Sekiyu grant $50,000 Docomo fundraiser $1,200 Requested grant $59,310 Total funding $200,510 Conclusion The citizens of Minamisanriku still have hope that their town will be the scenic fishing community it once was, but with the delay in reconstruction efforts, the need for library services in the community is urgent. Other towns in the disaster stricken areas of Tohoku have seen bookmobiles provide their citizens with access to books and tea, children s resources and programming, social networking capabilities and job training assistance. The funding of this program will help to contribute to education, entertainment, and moreover, to hope. References Association of Bookmobiles and Outreach Services (2008). Association of bookmobiles and outreach services: Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.abos-outreach.org/2008bookmobileguidelines.pdf Direct Relief International (2011). Grant supports mobile library for tsunami survivors. Retrieved from http://www.directrelief.org/emergencyresponse/2011/japanearthquaketsunami.aspx Harlan, C. (2011, May 11). In Japan, rebuilding among the ruins. The Washington post, p. A.1. Retrieved from http://global.factiva.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/ha/default.aspx Miura, T. (2011). Libraries situation after the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster recovery. The 77th IFLA General Conference. San Juan. Retrieved from http://www.jla.or.jp/portals/0/data/english/iflarreport.pdf Okahisa, K. (2011). Great East Japan earthquake and libraries: Clearing up and providing support. National Diet Library Newsletter, 180. Retrieved from http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/publication/ndl_newsletter/180/806.html 8
Shanti Volunteer Association (2011, August 6). Iwate Mobile Library Project News Release, 5. Retrieved from http://sva.or.jp/global/japan_earthquake/iwate/ Vavrek, B. F. (1992). Asking the clients: Results of a national bookmobile survey. Wilson Library Bulletin, 66, 35. Retrieved from Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W. Wilson). List of Appendices of pertinent additional materials A. Organizational chart of library staff and volunteers B. Library and bookmobile s mission statement C. Needs assessment of citizens of Minamisanriku report conducted in January 2012(focus group study). D. Collection development policy E. List of collection materials F. List of resources/access for disabled patrons G. List of van refurbishment costs H. Estimated maintenance and repair costs I certify that: This paper/project/exam is entirely my own work. I have not quoted the words of any other person from a printed source or a website without indicating what has been quoted and providing an appropriate citation. I have not submitted this paper / project to satisfy the requirements of any other course. Signature: Carlie Spruill Date: 3/24/2012 9
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