Public Library Support of College Literacy in Appalachia

Principal Investigators

Dr. Africa Hands

Overview

The project will look into how public libraries in Central Appalachia support the college literacy of nontraditional prospective students through information and services. Dr. Hands will looks into efforts across four states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. This region has lower rates of educational attainment and income and higher unemployment than other regions of Appalachia.

Project Goals

Her goals for the project are to highlight the nature of public library support for nontraditional prospective students and to identify libraries that may serve as exemplars to library practitioners who want to serve nontraditional college-bound patrons.

This project aligns with IMLS’s goal to promote lifelong learning and its objective of investing in library programs that focus on continuous learning for individuals of diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and needs. The first goal is to examine the nature of public library support for nontraditional prospective students. The second goal is to identify libraries that may serve as exemplars to library practitioners who want to serve nontraditional college-bound patrons.

Project Period

Funding

Institute of Museum and Library Services

$213,303 grant