Starter Frameworks
The Bubbler at Madison Public Library’s Maker Framework
Grounded in research and practice into making & learning, the Bubbler’s maker framework is designed to identify the outcomes of hands-on making and arts based programs. Experience has shown it is broadly applicable to a broad age range from children old enough to verbalize ideas and intentions, to adults.
Unlike some more STEM based assessment tools, this framework focuses strongly on building community and making connections to each other or themselves - core values of Madison Public Library’s strategic goals and conducive to arts based practices of the Bubbler’s Artist in Residence Program.
Learn more about the Bubbler at Madison Public Library’s approach in their case studies.
Download Bubbler Maker Framework
Download Sample Observations using Bubbler Maker Framework
Madison Public Library’s True Play Framework
Built on the principles of Anji Play, love, joy, risk, engagement, and reflection, Madison Public Library’s True Play framework allows for more open ended observation. With very young children, it is easy for adults to make assumptions about their play - obviously, they are making a boat! - but when littles aren’t verbal enough to tell observers their plans, or when their attentions shift rapidly, it is more accurate to notice their process, careful observation of others, shifting engagement with materials, and emotions around their progress.
This framework allows open observation of behavior, while still organizing and tagging content to recognize outcomes and trends.
Download Sample Observations using Framework
Learn more about Madison’s True Play approach in their case study.
Skokie Public Library’s Educational Learning Spaces Framework
Skokie Public Library’s EL Framework is different from Madison & Waupaca’s in that is focuses on observations within a dedicated maker space. The Studio, Lab, and Boombox, are spaces that are always available for patrons to learn new skills, experiment with new technology, and develop confidence in self directed learning - priorities that are mirrored in their observational framework.
Download Educational Learning Spaces Framework
Download Sample Observations using Framework
Learn more about Skokie’s space based approach and connection to their strategic priorities in their case study.
Skokie Public Library’s General Programming Framework
Skokie also hosts a variety of programs outside of its dedicated spaces. This General Programming Framework is tweaked from their space based observations to connect outcomes of any program to their strategic goals.
Download General Programming Framework
Learn more about Skokie’s program priorities in their case study.
Waupaca Public Library’s Youth STEAM Framework
Waupaca Public Library has an impressive track record of STEAM programming, and highly values creating opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration in their offerings to youth and families. More uniquely in their strategic priorities, is their emphasis on multi-age learning and opportunities for kids and caregivers to explore side by side. This includes learning about STEAM topics, but it also includes learning about each other and being amazed by their child or by their grown up.
Download Youth STEAM Framework
Download Sample Observations using Framework
Learn more about the Waupaca Public Library’s approach in their case study.
Create Your Own Framework
Follow our step-by-step guide to create your own framework based on your library's strategic goals.
Step 1: Generate ideas
Start with a free thinking, free write to generate ideas and ground your brain in what you are trying to capture and report more broadly about your library programs.
Remember 1 or 2 impactful, hands-on library programs you have been present for at your library. Be specific, create a list or write a paragraph, whatever is the most helpful to get as much down on paper as possible.
- What about this experience stands out to you as being impactful?
- What were patrons doing?
- What were they saying, to you and to each other?
- What was happening in their brains? What were they thinking? Wondering? Or feeling? How did you know that?
Share these experiences with someone, does talking about them generate more ideas? Additional considerations and elements?
Step 2: Reframe your thoughts.
The next step is to translate these rememberings into values. Thinking about these experiences, can you answer the question:
- What makes our hand-on experiential programs at our library so valuable?
(It may be helpful to generate these as statements about children and families. Like: “Children and their caregivers learn together” or “Patrons are highly engaged”)
Go a step deeper, look at your value statements
- WHY is that valuable? Is this based on your experience, knowledge you have from your practice, principles that you consider?
(It may be helpful to phrase these answers like, “engagement is value because it shows our experiences are accessible and interesting” or “learning together is valuable because it creates lasting bonds between parents and children”)
Share these ideas as a group. This can be a less formal conversation, but it is also help to create a community list on a whiteboard, shared documents, group note taker, or collective space.
Step 3: Build a group list
Build your group list and consider:
- Where do you see overlap? Can you start to put similar ideas together into themes or collective groupings?
- These related themes will be the basis for your Dimensions in your Observational Framework.
- An ideal number for a 1st draft is 4-6
After you have sorted your ideas and collective list, this is a great time to reference the sample frameworks from the Observation Deck. Your next step is to give your themes names. The sample frameworks may help provide some language, or consider your groupings in different ways.
They may also help you identify missing elements, things your group didn’t consider, but align with elements of your initial brainstorm.
Step 4: Go for it!
Name your themes and create the first draft of your dimensions
Step 5: do a cross check with your strategic plan or strategic priorities for your library system.
- Look at the themes in your draft.
- Do they align with your strategic plans or priorities?
- Do you want to tweak any of the language you selected to more directly align?
- Are there elements of the plan that are missing - is that ok?
(Remember a strategic plan is a comprehensive document for your institution and you are focused on programming. More specifically, you are focused on hands-on experiential programming in your space. Does your draft address the elements of the plan that are relevant to this portion of your service model.)
Now... take a break. It’s time to sleep on what you have created and done serious brain work around. Give yourself a little time or distance from this initial brainstorm before moving to to the next step.