The paper describes an "Outreach Study" in a British community which identified 46 adults with mental handicap over 50 years of age who were not in contact with specialist mental handicap service providers. The study's methodology and process are described including a discussion of issues concerned with defining the population.…

Discusses the role of libraries in providing emergent literacy experiences for children in day care and preschool programs. The importance of exposure to print is discussed, and a study is described that evaluated a library outreach program that was developed to promote emerging literacy in preschoolers. (LRW)

Sharon (Massachusetts) Public Schools developed an alternative procurement process for school food services that complies with state public bidding laws while evading "low-bid" constraints. The new process features evaluative criteria covering nutrition education, community outreach, management expertise, site visits, and price…

When metropolitan universities refer to serving the entire metropolitan area, they often refer to rural fringes as well as concentrated urban populations. Working with rural communities requires somewhat different approaches to planning programs and understanding needs. Survey research helps the campus understand the perceptions and realities of…

Data from several national research and evaluation projects involving 32 diverse institutions offer insights into what motivates college-faculty involvement in public service and outreach efforts, what faculty find to be obstacles to involvement, and what institutions can do to facilitate involvement. One salient policy supporting faculty…

Discusses how collection-development librarians can customize their workstations by building a Web page to cover public service and outreach efforts to constituencies, links to tools to enable selectors to use the Web and work more efficiently, and selection of Web resources. Describes Web sites in the three categories of communication with…

Examines whether student enrollment in a pre-college minority intervention program was associated with academic performance, retention, and success, as measured by such things as GPA, retention rate, and degree attainment. Found that African-American students who participated performed at or above the level of nonprogram students on all measures…

Discusses the role of philosophy both in public life and the university in addressing difficult public policy issues. Examples noted include a program applying principles of medical ethics to death and dying and a leadership development project at Indiana University South Bend, and the "Just Caring" research and outreach project, which…

Describes the Children's Health Matters project, which helps eligible families enroll their uninsured children in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Lists strategies to be used by Catholic schools: connect children to health insurance through the School Lunch Program; distribute outreach materials; discuss this issue at…

Discussion of the need for library outreach programs for children focuses on the idea of partnering and building community relationships. Highlights include the need for a model change for library outreach; library images; staff changes; networking and marketing; communicating; and changing attitudes. (LRW)

Describes the author's experiences directing at an interactive health education theater piece on acquaintance rape. Discusses personal and professional challenges and ethical dilemmas that came up regarding Post Traumatic Stress disorder, the activating of traumatic experiences. Argues that input from healthcare professionals was crucial, and…

Describes the results of the American Chemical Society Public Outreach Office's research program to measure the impact of the Kids & Chemistry program on both the children and the volunteer scientists. Highlights include objectives of the program, pretest research, focus group results, field tests, and pre- and posttest survey results.…

In 1998, the Houston Public Library launched a new library card campaign. Through extensive outreach, community partnerships, and the support of a major corporation, the program nearly doubled the number of children with cards in one fiscal year and increased juvenile circulation by more than 20%. The program led to an increase in library funding,…

Studied community perceptions of students and faculty involved in service learning and campus outreach activities through a survey of 65 directors of community service programs in which students participated and followup interviews with 30 agency personnel. Findings suggest that campuses and communities generally enjoy positive relationships, but…

Early Childhood Resources, a unit of Oregon's Multnomah County Library, provides outreach programs to children birth to five and their parents. Discusses: early experiences; early childhood planning efforts; in-library services; outreach services; building positive relationships; challenges and opportunities; serving child-care providers; serving…