Kamallah Kaplan

Outreach and Information Literacy Program Outline

October 24, 2014
LIS 704

Title: Workshop
Objective: To teach the homeless/poor user populations 21st Century skills, which include
adult literacy instruction in the following areas: computer skills, government resources, and life
skills, such as job coaching, resume support, interview skills, wardrobe assessment, and time
management skills. Workshop is designed to teach this user population how to become
commercially viable and self-sufficient citizens in a democratic society. Workshop would be
held at the public library and volunteers, such as library practitioners, teachers, tutors, and
working professionals would donate their time and professional knowledge to Workshop. I
would utilize local social services and government resources that could assist me with the
implementation of this program.
Target Audience: The purpose of this program is to focus on adult homeless and poor
populations who are living below the poverty line and/or are destitute. These individuals may
be living in shelters, on the street, or may be experiencing financial hardship that could
potentially render them homeless.
Materials:
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Promotional materials/pamphlets for food banks, shelters, and the librarys resources.
Promotional materials for Workshop that help to the public become aware of this program.
Donation bins for clothing, food, and miscellaneous provisions.
Online reference and print resources and government resources.
Hardware: computers, hard drives, and, printers/scanners
Software: Microsoft Office Word (possibly PowerPoint and Excel might be included) and
language learning software.

Process
Workshop is a one to two-month program divided into weekly workshops that would meet one
time a week for two hours, with one additional hour of lab time devoted to practicing the new
skill. Additional open lab hours would be provided with a tutor/advisor to assist with the lab.
The following is a possible schedule with potential presentations for Workshop:
Workshop I: Preparing for the Interview: commence with communication and interview skills,
that is, how to meet and greet a potential employer, how to prepare for an interview (what
kinds of questions will be asked and what kinds of questions should the interviewee ask), and
how to dress for an interview.
Workshop 2: Basic Computer Skills and the Internet

Workshop 3: Microsoft Word

Workshop 4: Effective Resumes and Cover Letters; etiquette for following up after an interview;
researching your potential employer.
Workshop 5: Refining Our Workshop Skills.
Workshop 6: Submit Your Workshop Portfolio.

Evaluation: A survey would be useful in understanding how to improve and/or

modify Workshop; however, I would consider following-up with the participants in the program
to see if they have been successful in securing employment. This would indicate whether or
not Workshop is useful to this user population. In addition, I would ask the participants to
review their peers work to see if they have processed the information from Workshop into a
working knowledge.
Other ideas up for consideration for this program would include guest speakers that use a
particular software program in a work environment, how this supports their work, and useful
tricks and tools for the user. I've also considered providing opportunities for participants to
become instructors and/or lab tutors after successfully completing Workshop.