Design, Sites, and Data Sources
The persistence study followed nine library literacy programs in five libraries over a four-year period, collecting extensive data on services, participation, and learner engagement. Implementation research described the local context and specific innovations introduced to increase persistence. By tracking changes in persistence over time, while controlling for variation in learner characteristics, the study sought to understand the effects of the programmatic strategies on persistence. The data sources include demographic and program data and ethnographic case studies of students.
The persistence study focused on library literacy programs in five library systems:
- Greensboro Public Library in North Carolina
- New York Public Library in Manhattan
- Oakland Public Library in California
- Queens Borough Library in New York City
- Redwood City Public Library in California
The overall project and its quantitative aspects were managed by MDRC, while NCSALL had responsibility for the qualitative aspects.