Faye Flanagan
Co-Director
504.620.2485
flanagan@leh.org
Miranda Restovic
Co-Director
504.620.2486
Dianne Brady
Senior Consultant
318.728.0026
bountifulw@aol.com
Olivia Pass, PhD
Associate Director
225.635.0092
pass@leh.org
Shantrell Adams
Assistant Director
504.620.2625
adams@leh.org
Christopher Robert
Program Assistant
504.620.2639
Michael Sartisky, PhD
President
504.620.2480
sartisky@leh.org
National Partners:
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| Important PRIME TIME Announcements: |
 PRIME TIME Announces Fall 2009 Louisiana Sites
Congratulations to all Summer and Fall 2009 PRIME TIME grant recipients! Approximately 25 PRIME TIME funding requests were received for Summer and Fall 2009 programming in Louisiana. However, due to reduced state funding for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, only 12 programs were selected. Private funds will underwrite 6 additional programs. View the Fall 2009 LA Site Schedule for more information on these programs.
PRIME TIME grant applications are tentatively being accepted for Spring 2010 and beyond. Application forms for libraries and other institutions are available.
Fall 2009 Programs
Arnold Ledoux Library; Eunice, LA (Summer)
Belcher Presbyterian Church; Shreveport, LA
Caldwell Parish Schools; Columbia, LA
Calcasieu Parish Public Libraries-Westlake Branch; Westlake, LA
Department of Juvenile Services-Jefferson Parish; Harvey, LA
East Baton Rouge Public Library-
Eden Park Branch; Baton Rouge, LA
East Iberville Parish Library; St. Gabriel, LA
Grant Parish Library; Colfax, LA
International School of Louisiana; New Orleans, LA
Jefferson Davis Title 1 Parent Center-
Lacassine High School; Lacassine, LA
Lafourche Parish Public Library-Bayou Blue Branch; Houma, LA
Louisiana Children's Museum-Dibert School; New Orleans, LA
Natchitoches Historic Foundation-Roque House; Natchitoches, LA
Prairie Elementary School; Lafayette, LA
St. Tammany Parish 21st Century CLC-
Chahta-Ima Elementary; Lacombe, LA
Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)-
Esperanza Charter School; New Orleans, LA
Union Parish Family Literacy Center; Bernice, LA
VOA-Louisiana Promise; Shreveport, LA
July 2009 PRIME TIME Training Workshop Was a Success
The July 18 - 19, 2009 PRIME TIME Training Workshop was a great success. Due to cuts in the LEH's state funding, the workshop was smaller than usual, hosting approximately 45 participants from Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. The trainees joined the PRIME TIME staff and experienced consultants at the Louisiana Humanities Center for two days of intense instruction and practice on the program's model, methodology and implementation strategies. The weekend proved to be enlightening and fun as participants left New Orleans well-prepared for their PRIME TIME programs set to take place during Fall 2009.
The LEH and PRIME TIME staff wish to thank the Loews New Orleans and Hilton St. Charles Avenue Hotels for partnering with us on this event. For additional details on future PRIME TIME training opportunities, please contact Shantrell Adams. |
| Kentucky Humanities Council Continues its Successful PRIME TIME Programs |
 According to Kathleen Pool, Associate Director of the Kentucky Humanities Council, "PRIME TIME is going strong in Kentucky." Two new libraries are conducting their first PRIME TIME programs this summer. Nelson County Public Library in Bardstown, Kentucky has been averaging more than 50 people each night for their programs. The Daviess County Public Library has teamed with the H. L. Neblett Community Center in Owensboro, Kentucky, to host their first PRIME TIME. The Neblett Community Center is providing the space and the transportation for the program.
Eight sites are gearing up to host PRIME TIME programs in the fall: Breckinridge County Public Library, Grayson County Public Library, Kenton County Public Library, Green County Public Library, Grant County Public Library, Nicholas County Public Library, John L. Street Public Library in Cadiz, and Lexington Public Library.
In an email to the PRIME TIME staff, Kathleen wrote that besides conducting site visits to each program... "one of my favorite tasks in managing PRIME TIME in Kentucky is reading the final reports from the scholars, storytellers, and library coordinators. I often shed a few tears when reading these reports. Of course, it doesn't take much to make me cry--I cry during Hallmark commercials on television." Click here to read some of the very touching and telling quotes shared by PRIME TIME team members in Kentucky.
To learn more about the Kentucky Humanities Council and its PRIME TIME programming, please visit www.kyhumanities.org. |
| C2E Hosts an Information Reception |
 On June 23, 2009, the C2E Collaborative hosted an information reception at the Louisiana Humanities Center Auditorium for those interested in learning more about the project and/or working with the C2E Collaborative on its initiatives during the 2009-2010 school year. More than 50 education stakeholders representing direct service providers, non-profit leaders, administrators, educators, social workers, etc. attended the event. After a brief presentation on the Connect2Educate Collaborative and its work, a lively and productive Q & A session was facilitated during which valuable feedback was received. The C2E Collaborative thanks all those who signed up to assist with the 2009-2010 initiatives. We look forward to working with the 2009-2010 Planning Committee to make the next event and notebook a success for our education community.
Formed in 2008, the C2E Collaborative coordinated a networking event in March 2009, and published the C2E Notebook, which details more than 100 organizations whose programming is offered to public schools and public school students.
While significant progress has been made in engaging community support of public school education, the C2E Collaborative is hoping to make the 2009-2010 Connect2Educate Event and Notebook even more productive and successful for the benefit of New Orleans public schools and public school students. More than 30 individuals representing New Orleans area organizations and schools have already endorsed Connect2Educate Collaborative and its initiatives. Click here to view a press release on C2E progress and future plans.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Miranda Restovic.
Coming soon www.connect2educate.org. |
| First-Time PRIME TIME Program Coordinator Offers Her Perspective |
 Kelly Pepo of the Orange County Library System (FL) Edgewater Branch
Our partners at the Florida Humanities Council are having a great year. So far in 2009, three stellar programs have ended while another five are scheduled to take place. Average attendance at the completed sites has been 47 participants per session. Final reports and surveys clearly depict high-quality, high-impact PRIME TIME programs that participating families have thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed.
Kelly Pepo, Branch Manager of the Edgewater Library, implemented her first PRIME TIME program this year. Overcoming nerves, recruitment concerns, and food and door prize obstacles, she and her team completed the six-week program with great success. Kelly shares details on her experience as a first-time, Prime Timer in an article entitled "PRIME TIME on the Edge of the Orange County Library System (FL): From the Program Coordinator's Perspective."
"When I was approached by my Administrator to be the Program Coordinator for PRIME TIME at my branch, I'll confess that I was nervous at the undertaking. However, working with the Florida Humanities Council (FHC), I was able to visit Bruton Memorial Library in Plant City and observe PRIME TIME in action and pick the Director's, Anne Haywood, brain about the ins and outs of the process. I highly encourage anyone gearing up for PRIME TIME to do this if there is an opportunity. I was still nervous, but excited and inspired to bring this program to the Edgewater Branch at the Orange County Library System (OCLS)."
Click here to read Kelly's full article. |
| PRIME TIME Partners with the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services |
 In light of the success of both the Lincoln Parish (targeting truant elementary school children) and Journeys/Seed Folks (targeting middle school children) initiatives, PRIME TIME has partnered with the Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services (JPDJS) to implement a program that brings delinquent youth together with their parents to engage in reading and discussion sessions based on PRIME TIME's Journeys/Seed Folks series. During these sessions youth and their parents will learn how to think critically about their actions and take part in open discourse with one another on important issues. Jefferson Parish youth and their parents will be referred to the PRIME TIME program as an intervention option and an alternative to court involvement.
Nancy Arceneaux of JPDJS will coordinate the pilot while experienced discussion leaders Dr. Bobbie Stevenson and Phyllis Jason will lead the sessions. This program is set to run from September 10 to October 29 on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and will take place at the Catholic Charities' Hope Haven Campus in Marrero, LA.Contact Shantrell Adams for additional details on this program.
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| PRIME TIME to be Offered En Français! |
 Cajuns, Creoles, and Franglais speakers rejoice! PRIME TIME is set to pilot a series of bilingual French/English programs to serve three French Immersion schools in Southeast Louisiana. The LEH, in partnership with the Consulate General of France in New Orleans, will launch the French/English PRIME TIME in Fall 2009 at The International School of Louisiana in New Orleans, the Lafourche Parish Public Library-Bayou Blue Branch in Bayou Blue, LA, and Prairie Elementary School in Lafayette, LA.
These programs will target children ages 6 to 10 who are enrolled in French immersion schools and their parents in an effort to foster a lifelong love of learning through reading in the two target languages. The LEH and PRIME TIME are proud to partner with the French Consulate on this highly anticipated project.
Funding for the project was provided by the following: The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Consulat General of France in New Orleans, Embassy of France/French Cultural Services, La Fondation Louisiane, Fondation CODOFIL, and Louisiana State University. Contact Miranda Restovic for more information.
Team members for the French programs participated in the July 2009 Training Workshop. Click here for the full press release.
Fall 2009 French Programs
Lafayette
Prairie Elementary
September 15 - October 20
Tuesdays @ 6:00 p.m.
Program Coordinator: Gwen Lewis
Scholar: Jennifer Miguez
Storyteller: Valerie Broussard
Houma
Lafourche Parish Public Library
September 16 - October 21
Wednesdays @ 6:00 p.m.
Program Coordinator: Allison Clark
Scholar: Robin White
Storyteller: Mel Baudoin
New Orleans
International School
October 20 - November 24
Tuesdays @ 5:30 p.m.
Program Coordinator: Pamela Stewart
Scholar: Robin White
Storyteller: Katy Ancelet |
| PRIME TIME in the Windy City
2009 ALA Conference in Chicago |
 On Sunday, July 12, 2009, Miranda Restovic, PRIME TIME Co-Director (moderator), along with panelists Thomas Phelps, Division of Public Programs Director, National Endowment for the Humanities; Lainie Castle, Public Programs Office Project Director, American Library Association; and Sue Warner, Youth and Neighborhood Services Head, Kalamazoo Public Library presented a lively and informative session at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL. The session titled PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME: A Model Program for Strengthening Families and Building Communities successfully introduced the award-winning program as an effective model in reaching underserved - or never served - families and establishing effective community partnerships with the agencies serving them.
Thomas Phelps introduced PRIME TIME as a program that promotes the mission of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which is rooted in the belief that "democracy demands wisdom." Because PRIME TIME engages the low-literacy populations and supports essential literacy efforts for future citizens, Phelps reminded the audience of the critical link between the humanities, literacy and public libraries. The National Endowment for the Humanities has been the principal sponsor of PRIME TIME national expansion efforts. Lainie Castle introduced the work of the ALA Public Programs Office, and recognized PRIME TIME as one of its long-standing partner programs. The ALA has been the principal institutional partner of PRIME TIME national expansion efforts. Sue Warner explained the history of PRIME TIME at her library and shared touching testimonials about the families she has been able to reach and help though the program.
Approximately 50 conference attendees joined the PRIME TIME session. Among the audience members was Karen McPheeters, Director of the Farmington Public Library, NM and a key PRIME TIME partner in New Mexico. Karen endorsed PRIME TIME as a program that is adaptable to any type of community and affectionately referred to the program as "the dessert of her career."
A special thank you to our panelists and the American Library Association for inviting PRIME TIME to present at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference.
Visit www.ala.org for more information on the American Library Association and its 2009 conference.
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