DATE: January 23, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kelley Worman-Landano, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Libraries Illuminated Grant
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the County Librarian’s previous submittal of a grant application to the Southern California Library Cooperative for California Library Services Act funds for the Libraries Illuminated project ($30,000);
2. Approve and authorize Chairman to ratify County Librarian’s previous execution of a retroactive Grant Agreement and acceptance of grant funds from the Southern California Library Cooperative to allow the County Librarian to participate in the Libraries Illuminated program effective November 14, 2017 through December 31, 2018 ($30,000); and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2017-18 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 in the amount of $30,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC) has awarded the Library a $30,000 State grant for the period of November 14, 2017 through December 31, 2018. The grant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Library to accept grant funds to purchase digital equipment to lead interactive story time programs at all 37 Library branches. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to accept the grant, which will result in the Library returning the grant funds, and not purchasing equipment to create interactive story time programs at all 37 Library branches.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive due to the timeframes associated with the grant award notice (November 14, 2017) and deadline for receipt of funding (December 4, 2017). Although the recommended agreement is retroactive, funds will not be expended until after your Board’s approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Libraries Illuminated grant in the amount of $30,000 will be used to purchase equipment and technology associated with creating interactive story time programs. The grant requires a 25% match of cash and in-kind resources. For FY 2017-18, the Library will meet this requirement with an in-kind contribution of $38,300 in staff costs and $600 in cash. The match the Library is providing is over the 25% required match due to staff time and resources required to carry out the learning programs using the new technology.
The third recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 for FY 2017-18 in the amount of $30,000. The Library has received the $30,000 and will roll over unused funds to the FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget for Org 7517. The Library plans to expend $15,000 of the grant funds in FY 2017-18 and $15,000 of the grant funds in FY 2018-19. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for the in-kind costs are included in the Library’s Org 7511 FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget. In-kind costs for the program will also be included in the FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget for Org 7511.
DISCUSSION:
The Library is the direct recipient of a Libraries Illuminated grant from the SCLC that will provide digital technology and equipment to the Library to enhance digital and early literacy programs. SCLC is a consortium of 39 independent city, county, and special district public libraries which have agreed to cooperate in providing library services to the residents of all participating jurisdictions. SCLC is administering the Libraries Illuminated grant on behalf of the California State Library. The Libraries Illuminated grant is funded with a California Library Services Act allocation. The Libraries Illuminated project helps California public libraries make software and hardware improvements to maximize benefits to patrons as they access new high-speed broadband connections and utilize non-broadband internet connections. The project goals are to support the development of innovative and creative programs and services for all ages, address the needs of libraries in underserved communities, and provide a variety of programming and service models for the library community to learn from and replicate.
The Library received notification of the grant funding opportunity in June 2017, and the grant application was submitted in September 2017 contingent upon your Board’s approval. The Library received notice of the grant award on November 14, 2017. The SCLC requested the County Librarian execute and submit the Request for Payment (included within the agreement) on December 4, 2017 to meet the grant’s deadline for receipt of funding. Funding for the grant in the amount of $30,000 has been received, and will be accepted after your Board’s approval. The grant period is from November 14, 2017 through December 31, 2018.
Upon your Board’s approval, the funds will be used to support the purchase of technology for Fresno County libraries to provide innovative programming that fulfills the potential of its internet connections. The technology will be used in a variety of ways to develop community building experiences for adults, teens, children and their families.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with SCLC Application
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 7517)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck