Big Read Grantees Survey

Big Read Grantees Survey (to be administered online)
As part of our external evaluation of The Big Read, we’d like to learn more about your Big Read project and its impact on your
organization and your community. Feedback from you and other grantees will help us understand how effectively The Big Read
brings community organizations together, what partnerships and implementation models work best, and what impact The Big
Read has on literary reading. All your responses will remain confidential, and no names or personally identifying information will
appear in our reports. The survey should take less than 20 minutes to complete. Thank you for your help!

A. Background
1.

Name:

2.

Organization:

3.

Title/Position:

4.

City/State:

5.

Approximately how many people are employed by your organization?

6.

How many of these people are involved in The Big Read?

7.

Briefly describe your organization’s role in your Big Read project or partnership.

8.

Have you or your organization worked on other NEA or nationally sponsored arts or literature efforts?
 Yes
 No
If yes, please briefly describe: [text box]

9.

Has your organization sponsored or promoted other local literature programs, such as One Book?
 Yes
 No
If yes, please briefly describe: [text box]

[ text box]

10. In comparing the scope of the Big Read to these other initiatives, would you say it is:
 far less involved than other initiatives

 somewhat more involved than other initiatives

 somewhat less involved than other initiatives

 far more involved than other initiatives

 not applicable

B. Forming Partnerships and Building Capacity
11. Overall, how would you rate the partnerships formed for your Big Read project?
not at all successful

1

somewhat successful

2

moderately successful

3

very successful

4

12. What partnership roles or structures were most effective? In other words, what factors made for the best
partnerships? [text box]

13. What were some of the major obstacles in forming or sustaining partnerships? What might you do differently if you
were partnering on another Big Read in the future? [text box]

14. One of the goals of The Big Read is to build the capacity of participating organizations. To what extent do you feel
your experience with The Big Read has increased your organization’s:
No
change

Modest
increase

Substantial
increase

capacity to attract audiences or build membership







capacity to attract diverse audiences







ability to meet the needs of targeted populations







knowledge of community organizations for future collaborations







ability to build coalitions







skills in promoting events







skills in taking part in national initiatives







15. Please elaborate on areas where you noted increases: [text box]
16. How likely is it that the Big Read partnership(s) will lead to other collaborations related to literature and the arts?
very unlikely

unlikely

1

2

likely

very likely

3

4

C. Attracting Audiences
17. What impact do you feel The Big Read had on your community and literary reading? Please share what struck you
as compelling evidence of the impact. [text box]
18. The Big Read targeted a wide audience—readers and non-readers, youth, adults, seniors, those typically drawn to
literature or civic and cultural events and those who aren’t. Please indicate whether your Big Read targeted particular
audiences, and how successful you think you were in attracting them. If you’re not sure how successful you were, check
the “not sure” box in the last column.
Not a targeted
audience

Current patrons (those who use their
library cards and attend events regularly)
Readers new to literary fiction (patrons or
card holders who rarely check out literary
texts/attend events)
Non-readers
Non-native English speakers
Populations underserved because of
geographic, ethnic, or economic barriers
Young adults/students participating as a
out-of-school activity
Teachers/students participating as a
class/in-school activity
College and university students and
faculties
Seniors
Other (describe):

Not at all
successful

Somewhat
successful

Quite
successful

Very
successful

Not
sure

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4



1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4





1

2

3

4









19. Please describe recruitment or outreach strategies that you think successfully attracted your targeted audiences?.
[text box]

20. Also describe challenges you encountered in reaching certain audiences. [text box]

21. To what extent do you feel you were successful in expanding the numbers of those in your community who read
literary works for pleasure and enlightenment?
not at all successful

somewhat successful

1

moderately successful

2

22. Did you work with schools?  Yes

very successful

3

4

 No (If not, skip to #25.)

23. If you worked with schools, how would you rate the feedback from teachers about the Big Read and the books or
themes discussed in your community? [text box]
very negative

somewhat negative

1

somewhat positive

2

very positive

3

4

24. What kind of feedback did you get from students?
very negative

somewhat negative

1

somewhat positive

2

very positive

3

4

25. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements by checking the appropriate box.
Strongly

The Big Read…

disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly
agree

changed attitudes about literary reading [among young adults, etc.]









expanded the audience for arts and literature-related events.









expanded the young-adult audience for arts and literature-related events.









increased the visibility of the library and library programs.









helped bring diverse groups together to talk about literature.









generated an interest in the themes and issues addressed in our Big Read book.
generated an interest in [local connections to] the historical periods portrayed
in our Big Read book.

















laid the groundwork for future collaborations to boost an interest in literature.









D. Using Support and Resources
26. How would you rate each of the following in supporting your Big Read effort?
Inadequate

Satisfactory

Good

Excellent

Overall support from the NEA and Arts Midwest

1

2

3

4

NEA technical assistance

1

2

3

4

Big Read Organizers Guide

1

2

3

4

Big Read Web site

1

2

3

4

Big Read CD/audio guides

1

2

3

4

Big Read Readers’ Guides

1

2

3

4

Big Read Teachers’ Guides

1

2

3

4

Big Read publicity materials

1

2

3

4

Public Service Announcements

1

2

3

4

Banners, posters, bookmarks, etc.

1

2

3

4

27. Did your project have its own Big Read web site?

 Yes

 No (If not, skip to # 30.)

28. Were able to track activity on your web site?

 Yes

 No

29. How many hits did you have during your Big Read?

__________ (Feel free to attach via email any printouts

of your data from web-tracking tools.)
30. What additional support, promotional materials, or resources—from the national level, or from local participants and
partners—would have helped you implement your Big Read? [text box]

E. Collecting Data and Assessing Efforts
31. Did the required data recording and reporting forms help you track your project and assess its impact?
 Yes
 No
32. Was it difficult to maintain the records and submit reports?  Yes

 No

33. Was the feedback gathered with the event cards helpful in gauging the success of events?  Yes
34. Did you use the feedback to revise plans or make changes in subsequent events?  Yes

 No
 No

35. What else would you have liked to know about your project, or what other kinds of data or reporting would have
helped you assess its impact? [text box]

36. Any final comments on The Big Read? [text box]

Thank you!