Library Standard Operating Procedure (SOP ) Project Report

Report prepared by Dhanya TA

JoyofReading signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions , Society, (TSWREIS) Gurukulam Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions, Society (TTWREIS) on May 25th 2023, to collaborate on the Library Standard Operating Procedure Project. The objective of the project is to implement the detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for libraries present in TSWREIS & TTWREIS schools in a phased manner. Both parties collaborated on this project to enable the librarians and principals to establish a defined role of librarian, follow necessary library management best practices, systematically inculcate the reading habit in students by systematizing the library hour and measure outcomes of the library hour and librarian initiatives.

Joy of Reading (JoR) developed a comprehensive Library Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document. This manual covers the complete setup of a library, detailing the necessary steps, the librarian’s role, book arrangement by reading levels, techniques for conducting reading level assessments, essential records to maintain, conducting library hours, and metrics to measure outcomes.

Pilot Program Details

The primary focus of the SOP project is to measure the effectiveness of the library setup by tracking the activities conducted by librarians and improvements in reading levels. As a first step of this process, training was conducted for all the 25 schools at the beginning of the academic year.

Library SOP Experiential Training

Joy of Reading conducted the Library Standard Operating Procedure Experiential Training for 20 schools of TSWREIS and 5 schools of TTWREIS Gurukulam on June 9th, 2023. The training was for the whole day for librarians and half a day for principals. The librarians went through the concepts of performing Reading Level Assessment, Interactive Read Aloud and practiced them during the workshop in teams. During the after noon session the Library Activity planner was discussed in detail

The library activity planner has been created to assist schools in conducting library hours effectively. It presents ideas and suggestions for activities for librarians to enhance children’s reading skills in an engaging and enjoyable way. It includes detailed weekly, monthly, and yearly plans, recommendations for movies and online read-aloud videos, questions to stimulate discussion after reading, and various book suggestions.

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Books donated by Sakku Group and JoR as a part of the library SOP project

Joy of Reading did not stop with just sharing the knowledge but also was instrumental in providing the schools with right resources to conduct the library hour effectively . JoR distributed 6185 English books and 3500 Telugu books (Telugu books sponsored by Sakku Group ) of all levels to the twenty five schools as part of the Library SOP project.

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– VENKATA DHARMA POULTRIES PRIVATE LIMITED  (Sakku Eggs)  sponsored 140 books per school for 20 schools of TSWREIS and 5 schools of TTWREIS Gurukulam as part of their Corporate Sponsorship program partnering with Joy of Reading on June 9th, 2023. A total of 3500 Telugu story & information books across all levels were donated. Dr Sadhana Pendurthi , Director Sakku Group handed over the books to Smt. Sarada Kambhambati, Joint Secretary TSWREIS

Here are some instances of books donated to schools

135 English books and 140 Telugu books were donated from Joy of reading to TSWRS Parvathgiri

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201 English books, and 140 Telugu books were donated as a part of the library SOP project to TSWRS Boath

365 English books and 135 Telugu books were donated as a part of the library SOP project to TSWRS Nandimedaram

JoR donated several books in Telugu and English as a part of the library SOP project to TSWRS/ JC (B) Shaikpet

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JoR donated 222 English books and 140 Telugu books as a part of the library SOP project to TSWREIS Tekulapalli

During the year

The project spanned the entire 2023 academic year, measuring outcomes for library and librarian initiatives. JoR collected monthly data on library activities, such as the number of books read per class, read-aloud sessions, and online read-aloud video viewings. At the end of the year, reading level assessments were conducted to evaluate progress.

The JoR team also held monthly meetings with the schools, engaging with the librarians to understand their progress and collecting metrics periodically. Additionally, twice during the academic year, the JoR team conducted one-on-one sessions with both the librarian and the principal to discuss progress and provide ongoing mentorship throughout the year.

This structured program significantly boosted librarian morale, as they felt proud of their achievements and were pleased with the children’s excitement and eagerness to attend library sessions. Librarians gained clarity in their roles, and the main goal of improving reading levels was successfully met. The SOP also served as a guide for schools without dedicated librarians, ensuring effective and engaging library hours were conducted.

Outcomes

• Librarian Empowerment: 100% of librarians reported improved clarity in their roles.
• Increased Reading Interest: Over 90% of librarians observed increased enthusiasm for library activities.
• Data-Driven Improvement: Schools implemented systematic data collection to track library activities.
• Measurable Reading Gains: All schools that conducted reading level assessments (RLA) showed improvements.
  • 69% of TSWREIS schools saw at least 70% of students improve by one or more reading levels.
  • A correlation was observed between increased library hours (3+ per week) and improved reading levels.
• Character Building: Books fostered positive character development in students.
• Engaging Activities: Creative activities like skits, pop up story book making, quiz and poster-making boosted reading motivation.

Next Steps

• Integrate library planning into the beginning of the school year for both principals and librarians.
• Streamline data collection monthly for easier recording and reporting.
• Scale the program to include more schools (100+) for next academic year.

Stakeholder Feedback

Overall, stakeholders praised the SOP’s impact on:

• Student Reading Interest:
  • Students look forward to library period.
  • JOR (Joy of Reading) books and videos were particularly engaging for students.
• Reading Levels:
  • Several schools noted significant improvement in reading levels, with some achieving 100% reading proficiency in specific grades.
  • The RLA (Reading Level Assessment) tool was seen as valuable for measuring progress.
• Library Management:
  • The SOP provided clear guidelines and a framework for efficient library organization and activity planning.
  • JOR-donated books were considered high-quality and well-suited for different reading levels

Unique Adoptions

• Addagudur plans to distribute books for summer reading with a showcase upon return.
• Chevella celebrates reading improvements with lunch with the principal and student-led activities.
• Imampet Suryapet implemented the program effectively using the SOP document despite missing training.

The overall success of the Library SOP project highlights its potential for expansion and its significant impact on fostering a love of reading among students.