DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sally Gomez, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Department Celebrations and Recognitions
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Library to recognize and celebrate holidays, themes, events, days, weeks, or months described in Attachments A through E, for five years or until approval is rescinded by the Board, in accordance with Administrative Policy No. 81.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended action. Administrative Policy No. 81 (AP 81) requires prior approval by a majority of the Board of Supervisors for department celebrations and recognition of holidays, themes, events, days, weeks or months (collectively, Celebrations). The recommended action requests your Board approval to celebrate and recognize the Celebration submitted by the Library identified in Attachments A through E. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may approve all, or specific celebrations and recognitions described in Attachments A through E. Should your Board not approve of a specific celebration or recognition, the Library will not officially and publicly celebrate or recognize that specific holiday, theme, event, day, week, or month.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no NCC associated with the recommended action. Any event or causes in which the Library intends to incur expenses for sponsorships or contributions will be brought to your Board for approval in accordance with Administrative Policy No. 80.
DISCUSSION:
On August 5, 2025, your Board discussed and provided direction for an approval process for Celebrations by County departments. On September 9, 2025, your Board approved AP 81 - Department Celebrations and Recognitions, which allows County departments to officially and publicly celebrate or recognize those Celebrations that are approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors by resolution, proclamation, or through the agenda item process prior to their occurrence.
Attachments A through E include holidays, themes, events, days, weeks, or months the Library requests approval to recognize or celebrate which include the following:
Attachment A - Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day
Attachment B - Irish-American Heritage Month
Attachment C - Cinco de Mayo
Attachment D - Autism Acceptance Month
Attachment E - Earth Day
Upon your Board’s approval, the Library will recognize Autism Acceptance Month for the remainder of April 2026 and annually each April thereafter for the approved 5-year period. As Irish-American Heritage Month has already passed for the current year, the Library will begin recognizing it in March 2027 for the remainder of the approved five-year period.
Majority of events listed in Attachments A through E are recognized either through Library displays, booklists, website announcements, social media posts, internal or external newsletters, activities, and informational materials that can be themed around the observance, to raise awareness of Library services and encourage community engagement. Additionally, some themes may be used in programming and displays throughout the year.
The proposed events represent the Library’s core services, which include providing relevant and meaningful programs and services that reflect community needs. These programs are a part of the regular and traditional offerings that foster social connections and support cultural and civic engagement and lifelong learning.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #7, September 9, 2025
BAI #9, August 5, 2025
BAI #11, June 10, 2025
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A - Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day
Attachment B - Irish-American Heritage Month
Attachment C - Cinco de Mayo
Attachment D - Autism Acceptance Month
Attachment E - Earth Day
CAO ANALYST:
Mary Lu Valencia