Community Programming For Military Veterans

1. Community Programming For Military Veterans Nancy Faget U.S. Army Research Laboratory Michelle Dunaway University of Pittsburgh School Information Sciences #ala12 Anaheim, California June 23, 2012

2. The Inspiration

3. The Idea “…to encourage all veterans, active and retired, to write about their experiences for their own benefit or to share them with friends and family.”

4. About Us Nancy Faget Branch Chief, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Information Resources Branch Past President, ALA FAFLRT (Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table) Michelle Dunaway NMRT – FAFLRT Liaison, 2011- present

5. Presentation Overview Military Writers Workshops • Organizing, Planning, Outreach • Obstacles & Outcomes Veterans and Libraries • Academic Libraries • Public Libraries

6. Special Thanks This presentation was made possible by Amy Hartman and Holly Baumgartner who shared their idea with us and gave generously of their knowledge, resources, and support. Thank you for your commitment to improving the lives of our nation’s veterans, and for starting this very important conversation.

7. Part I Military Writers Workshops

8. The Curriculum Week 1: Writing About Place Week 2: Writing About Events Week 3: Using Humor In Writing Week 4: Writing About a Memorable Person Week 4: Writing About Yourself Week 6: Using Reflection in Writing

9. The Curriculum “Notice the differences in style between Terkel’s book, which contains passages taken directly from spoken interviews, and what we find in Junger’s book, which is very polished and edited narrative writing. Think about how using each method of writing (raw vs. polished) can be effective in sharing your experience.” From Week 2, Writing About Events • Examples from professional writers • Sebastian Junger, War (Iraq War) • Philip Caputo, A Rumor of War (Vietnam War) • “Studs” Terkel, The Good War (WWII) • Exercises based on examples

10. Memoir Writing

11. Memoir Writing Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir by Lisa Dale Norton www.lisadalenorton.com @LisaDaleNorton

12. Recruiting Participants

13. Outcomes & Obstacles “I spoke with the members that you would have been interested in and what I found was they are not interested in discussing with anyone their experiences involving the armed conflicts they were thrown in to.   The truth is they would neither wish to remember it nor do they wish to discuss their experiences with anyone.”

14. Recruiting Participants:Outreach & Marketing • Disseminated program information to local newspapers via press releases • Prominently featured “push” on library’s website • Communicated with local VFW posts, Vietnam Veterans of America, local Rotary organization • Hung flyers around college campus • Posted information to college website

15. Veterans and the Cultural and Historical Record Permalink: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/758671163

16. Part II Veterans and Libraries

17. Veterans By the Numbers Veteran Population = 22.7 million (WWII , Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq War) OEF/OIF Veterans = 2.4 million (deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, or both since 09/2001)

18. Considerations Unique group with unique life events and experiences Skills and coping mechanisms that she or he developed during service may be counterproductive or misunderstood in civilian life Readjustment is a major challenge Families, friends, caregivers may need assistance coping with changes Extensive information needs relating to all of the above

19. Veterans’ Information Needs Benefits & Services e.g. eligibility, forms, service records Health & Well-Being e.g. mental health, crisis prevention, caregiver support Connect & Communicate e.g. reunite with comrades, find veterans’ organizations (Schneider, 2001)

20. Public & Academic Libraries: Possibilities • Develop collections that… • provide support for returning soldiers and their families • provide information on specific conditions and information about claiming benefits • educate and inform the public • Create pathfinder or LibGuide for online information resources • local, state, federal resources

21. Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples http://libraryschool.campusguides.com/sandiegoveteranresources

22. Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples http://lib.gwinnettpl.org/Veterans

23. Veterans Services LibGuides: Examples http://libguides.usc.edu/uscveterans

24. Key Online Resources U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs http://www.va.gov/ National Archives: Veterans Service Records http://www.archives.gov/veterans/ Library of Congress Veterans History Project http://www.loc.gov/vets

25. Veterans and Higher Education Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (“Post-9/11 GI Bill”) Financial support for education to all service members with at least 90 days active duty after September 10, 2001 Pays a percentage (up to 100 %) tuition & fees for four years (36 months) up to the cost of the most expensive public institution in the state in which the Veteran enrolls

26. Post-9/11 GI Bill http://www.gibill.va.gov/

27. The Data Number of Veterans Utilizing Education Benefits, 2001 - 2011 923,038 Source: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics http://www.va.gov/vetdata/ 421, 048

28. However… “As a subpopulation of adult learners, military and veteran students have unique challenges that other nontraditional students do not…” (Cook & Kim, 2009)

29. Study: Student Veterans atArizona State University How can campus programs and services: aid student veterans in transition? support academic success? foster retention? (Weber, 2012)

30. Study of Student Veterans atArizona State University Frequency of ASU Programs and Services Utilization Academic Advising Services: 63.8 % Office of Veterans Services: 63.8 % Library Services: 59.1 % Financial Aid Services: 54.8 % (Weber, 2012, p. 73 - 74)

31. Veterans and Academic Libraries: Possibilities Increase library staff knowledge of resources and services for veterans Work with academic support services to coordinate enhanced delivery of VA education benefits information and counseling Provide a veteran-specific orientation to introduce new military/veteran students to library programs and services Support or “sponsor” a new student veteran organization Connect with existing groups to identify ways to support academic success Offer a military/veteran student gathering place Offer an online course designed to help student veterans become familiar with campus programs, resources, and services

32. Conclusions Veterans are a unique segment of American population. Government agencies, educational institutions, and libraries can all contribute to veterans’ success transitioning to civilian life and academic life. Libraries are uniquely positioned to function as “portals” to information and services that benefit veterans and their families.

33. References Cook, B. J., & Kim, Y. (2009). From soldier to student: Easing the transition of service members on campus. Retrieved from American Council on Education: http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Papers_Publications&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=33242 Hartman, A., & Baumgartner, H. (2011). Helping warriors unleash the power of the pen. American Libraries, November/December 2011. Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/11082011/helping-warriors-unleash-power-pen Hartman, A., & Baumgartner, H. L. (2011). In our boots: A collection of veterans stories: Veterans Writing Workshop 2010 – 2011. Sylvania, Ohio: Lourdes College. Hughes, M. A. (2011). Collection development: Back on the home front. Library Journal , 12. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/890883-264/collection_development__back_on.html.csp Schneider, J. M. (2001). Arming themselves with information: Veterans using the internet. Health Care on the Internet, 5(1), 21-30. doi: 10.1300/J138v05n01_02 Weber, D. J. (2012). Academic success and well-being following OEF/OIF deployment (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Proquest Dissertations & Theses A&I (Accession No. 3495315).

34. Additional Resources Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://iava.org/ Make the Connection: Shared Experiences and Support for Veterans: http://maketheconnection.net/ Returning Service Members (OEF/OIF): http://www.oefoif.va.gov/ Student Veterans of America: http://www.studentveterans.org/ Veterans Crisis Line: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

35. Veterans Writing Workshops Curriculum Bibliography Appy, C. (2003). Patriots: The Vietnam war remembered from all sides. New York: Viking. Caputo, P. (1986). A rumor of war. New York: Henry Holt and Co. Herr, M. (1991). Dispatches. New York: Vintage Books. Junger, S. (2010). War. New York: Twelve. Peters, R., & Xiaobing, L. (2004). Voices from the Korean War: Personal stories of American, Korean, and Chinese soldiers. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky. Rico, J. (2007). Blood makes the grass grow green: A year in the desert with Team America. New York: Presidio Press: Ballantine Books. Terkel, S. (1984). The Good War: An oral history of World War II. New York: Pantheon Books. Tupper, B. (2010). Greetings from Afghanistan: Send more ammo. New York: NAL Caliber.

36. Thank You! mkd22@pitt.edu @mdunawa