DATE: September 12, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kelley Worman-Landano, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Talking Book Library for the Blind Donation
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution accepting and expressing gratitude for the non-monetary donation of 20 Bookshare subscriptions and training valued at $3,300 to the Fresno County Public Library from the Califa Group.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended action is required to satisfy reporting requirements under Chapter 762.12 of the CAO Management Directives for donations greater than $500 in value. Approval of the recommended action will allow the Library to accept a donation of 20 Bookshare subscriptions and Bookshare training valued at $3,300. The Bookshare subscriptions last for one year and provide access to over half a million e-books in braille, text-to-speech audio files, and large font e-books. The one-year subscriptions are to be given to library patrons who are print-disabled.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the donation, which will result in the Library not receiving Bookshare training and Bookshare subscriptions to give to library patrons with print disabilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. In addition, there is no increase in revenues or appropriations as the Library will receive 20 Bookshare subscriptions to give to patrons who are unable to read conventional print. The Bookshare subscriptions have a value of $40 each, for a total of $800. One Senior Library Assistant and one Library Assistant II will also receive training valued at $2,500 on how to use Bookshare and how to train others on using Bookshare. The Library will provide an in-kind contribution of $23,064 in staff time. The in-kind contribution covers a percentage of salaries and benefits for one Senior Library Assistant and one Library Assistant II with indirect costs calculated at 10%. This staff time will be used to administer the Bookshare subscriptions and teach patrons how to use braille, text-to-speech audio files, and large font formats available on Bookshare subscriptions. The Library’s salary, benefits, and overhead costs are included in the FY 2017-18 Recommended Budget Org 7511.
DISCUSSION:
In September 2017, the Fresno County Public Library received a $3,300 non-monetary donation in Bookshare subscriptions and training from the Califa Group. The Califa Group is a nonprofit library membership consortium of more than 220 libraries and is the largest library network in California. Twenty Bookshare subscriptions are valued at $800 and Bookshare training is valued at $2,500. The subscriptions are to be given to patrons. Library staff will determine who gets the subscriptions based on need, interest, and comfort with the technology. It is not anticipated that demand will exceed supply.
Bookshare is a Global Literacy initiative of Beneficent Technology, Inc. (Benetech), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation that focuses on developing technology for social good. Bookshare subscriptions provide access to over half a million fiction and non-fiction e-books in audio, braille, and large font. Staff will be trained on how to use Bookshare via two webinars hosted by Benetech. These webinars will teach staff how to use the Bookshare program and how to train other staff and patrons on using Bookshare. The Library was awarded the donation as part of a grant the Califa Group received from the California State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act. The Library Services and Technology Act provides federal funding and grants to California libraries for innovative library services, technological development, services for underserved populations, library networking, and resource sharing.
Library patrons currently have access to a collection of roughly 100,000 braille and audio books through the Talking Book Library for the Blind branch. Patrons that receive the subscription would gain access to over half a million books. The Talking Book Library for the Blind is one of four National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped network libraries located in California. The Talking Book Library for the Blind provides services for persons with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck